Sturgeon's own MSPs warn her of 'reckless' bottle return scheme
The controversial policy is due to come into effect in just over six months
SNP MSPs are among a cross-party group at Holyrood warning the First Minister that bringing in a deposit return scheme (DRS) as planned in August would be "reckless".
The group, including former Scottish rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing and veteran SNP MSP Christine Grahame, has written to Nicola Sturgeon amid "extensive and wide ranging concerns" about the scheme - which is due to come into effect in just over six months.
The letter, also signed by Conservative MSPs Maurice Golden and Brian Whittle, Labour's Claire Baker and Paul O'Kane and Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur, comes in the wake of concerns from drinks producers about its impact.
A Scottish Government review published in December "identified that the scheme cannot be made to work as planned in August", the MSPs said.
Their letter said that given the "number and gravity of the defects identified by both that review and by industry, that it would be reckless for the Scottish Government to proceed with the scheme's introduction in August this year".
The group urged Ms Sturgeon to "instruct an urgent and entirely independent review of how best to improve recycling in Scotland" for the three types of material covered by the DRS - PET plastic, glass bottles and metal cans.
What does DRS involve?
Under the current proposals, shoppers will pay a 20p deposit when buying a drink in these containers, with the money then refunded to them when they take the empty cans and bottles back for recycling.
Hundreds of leading figures from businesses in the food, drinks and hospitality sectors have already sent an open letter to circular economy minister Lorna Slater, calling for the initiative to be paused so that changes can be made.
Similar schemes in Europe 'improve' recycling rates
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Scotland's deposit return scheme will go live on August 16 this year and will make producers responsible for recycling the bottles and cans they put on the market.
"Similar schemes are common in other European countries and have been shown to be very effective in improving recycling rates, tackling littering and addressing public concerns about the impact of plastic and other waste on our environment."
He added: "We understand that this is a big change, especially for smaller businesses, and Scottish Ministers continue to work with affected businesses to address outstanding concerns and ensure the scheme launches successfully."