Earlier this year, the Scottish Government confirmed that its deposit return scheme (DRS) – originally due to be launched in August 2023 – would be delayed until at least October 2025. This decision followed apprehension from the UK Government about the impact of the scheme on the UK internal market, alongside practical concerns from industry about both the scheme’s rollout and its potential to increase costs.

It is widely acknowledged that the deposit return schemes will come with environmental benefits for Scotland, including increased recycling and a reduction in littering and carbon emissions.  As work continues ahead of the scheme’s 2025 introduction, stakeholders must be engaged in the development process to dispel remaining doubts.

Join us as we consider how Scotland can deliver a successful DRS scheme, which addresses previous concerns and works productively alongside equivalent UK schemes.