Scottish Parliament – Feb. 22, 2023 – 3

S6M-07975.1: As an amendment to motion S6M-07975 in the name of Maurice Golden (Launching a Successful Deposit Return Scheme), insert at end “;

acknowledges that an effective modern deposit return scheme reduces carbon emissions and waste;

welcomes the changes that have been made to the proposals since the regulations were first made;

recognises that concerns from some businesses, in particular small producers and retailers, remain over operational elements of the scheme, and urges the Scottish Government to consider further changes ahead of any introduction, including a grace period for small producers, exemptions for low volume producers, and an opt-in for small retailers to ensure delivery of a viable Deposit Return Scheme that helps meet Scotland’s net zero ambitions.”

Original motion(S6M-07975): That the Parliament believes that a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) can make a positive contribution to increasing the rate of recycling and reducing litter for drinks containers;

recognises that the Scottish Government has been committed to introducing a DRS since 2013;

welcomes the widespread support that the scheme’s environmental objectives have received from businesses, and recognises their concerns over key operational elements of the scheme;

understands that businesses, and waste management experts have called for at least 18 months’ notice prior to the scheme launch, and that, with less than six months until the proposed launch, information is still required by stakeholders to both ensure compliance and maximise the operational success of the scheme;

notes the findings of the Gateway Review Final Report, which stated that “…a fully functioning and compliant DRS cannot be in operation for the revised August 2023 schedule”, and calls for an urgent independent review of the launch date to enable a successful launch as soon as practically possible.