20p deposit-return scheme would remove nearly half a million littered plastic bottles from the Highlands, Zero Waste Scotland claims
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
NEARLY half a million plastic bottles could be kept out of the environment in the Highlands under plans for a 20p deposit and return scheme.
The new figure was published by environmental body Zero Waste Scotland, which reveals the scale of plastic bottle dumping in the Highland Council area – and how it believes it could be reduced by Scotland’s forthcoming deposit return scheme.
Under the scheme, shoppers would pay a 20p deposit when buying drinks purchased in single-use plastic or glass bottles and aluminium or steel cans. People would then get their money back when they returned their empty container for recycling.
Zero Waste Scotland said that 20p would give people an extra incentive to recycle their empty bottles and cans, and make people think twice about dropping them.
The new figures also revealed that people in the Highlands go through close to 30 million plastic bottles every year, and that almost 540,000 are littered in the area each year.
Zero Waste Scotland believes the 20p incentive not to throw away empties will cut the littering by 90 per cent – meaning close to 486,000 fewer plastic bottles dropped in Highland each year.
“Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme could visibly slash the number of littered plastic bottles in the Highlands," said Jill Farrell, chief operating officer at Zero Waste Scotland.
“We all hate seeing empty bottles and cans littering our streets, green spaces and beaches. The great thing about Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme is it will give people a 20p incentive to do the right thing with their empty bottles – take them back for recycling, rather than risk them ending up on our streets or in our rivers.
“Litter isn’t just an eyesore – it also pollutes our environment and seas. And for every bottle littered, more plastic has to be created, generating more planet-damaging emissions. When you take back your empty bottles to be recycled, you’ll not just be getting your 20p back – you’ll be doing your bit in the fight against the climate emergency.”
The following materials would be covered by the scheme:
• PET plastic bottles (like most fizzy drinks and water bottles)
• Steel and aluminium cans
• Glass bottles
All types of drinks in these containers and all containers between 50 ml and three litres in size would be be included.
Across Scotland, wherever people can buy a drink in a container made from one of these materials they will also be able to return it to reclaim the deposit. Online retailers will also be included in the scheme, ensuring it’s accessible to people that are dependent on online delivery.
The Scottish Government is expected to introduce legislation to enable the scheme later this year.
For more information about Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme, visit www.depositreturn.scot
