Scottish Parliament Approves DRS

Following the announcement in April that the proposed Scottish Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) would be delayed, the Scottish Parliament has now passed it into law, with a commencement date of 1 July 2022.

The Scottish Deposit Return Scheme will be the first in the UK, with retailers that sell drinks having a legal requirement to add the a deposit amount and accept returns of empty containers for recycling. The scheme will also effect hospitality businesses, including restaurants, bars, cafes, and hotels, that will have to charge the deposit as well as operate their own return stations for products sold for take-out.

The final implemented regulations proposed in the Scottish Parliament back in in March, have an ambitious, all encompassing approach to recycling, with the inclusion of glass alongside PET plastics, aluminium and steel.

Though the scheme may seem like a distant issue, it actually only gave manufacturers and retailers 2 years to become compliant.

We believe that the use of reverse vending machines will be key to the success of the Scottish Deposit Return Scheme, reducing the burden on businesses and incentivising the customers. Trials by a number of large retailers, including Iceland and Boots have proved very effective.

Read more about the delay here. Find out more about how DRS works and how it effects you here.

So, it’s official, the Deposit Return Scheme is coming. If you are interested in getting ahead of the regulations, and ensuring your systems/procedures are in place in plenty of time then get in touch. Recyclever is the only RVM to be manufactured here in the UK and promises a wealth of opportunities for retailers and hospitality businesses.