THE deposit return system (DRS) under consideration by the Scottish Government, that would see shops required to take in returns of many plastic, glass and metal containers, has been slammed by a leading industry consortium. And supermarket giant Asda has told Holyrood it has consulted its own customers and they don’t want to take empties back to shops.
In a submission to the Scottish Government the Packaging Recycling Group Scotland, a new group of more than 30 trade organisations and companies from across the drinks and food packaging supply chain, said the DRS highlighted in a feasibility study for Zero Waste Scotland “fails on nearly every practical level and ignores current consumer behaviour”.
The group said the study lacked consultation with retailers, industry and consumers and it argued that the proposed scheme, under which many stores would be expected to install large reverse vending units costing more than £32,000, would neither boost recycling nor reduce litter.
Issues that have not been fully considered, according to the PRGS, include the growth in online shopping and home deliveries; high support for current local authority kerbside recycling; the carbon impact of additional transportation; loss of trading space to install recycling points; and associated costs and the ultimate hit on the consumer wallet the current proposed scheme would create.
Jane Bickerstaffe, PRGS spokesperson, said: “The cost to the consumer will be significant, while the impact on retailers has been virtually ignored.
“We want the Scottish Government to understand that we are also intent on promoting reuse and recycling where possible, but this scheme does not promote reuse.
“As it stands it places extra burdens on consumers, who will need to factor in extra trips and planning to claim refunds, and extra burdens on retailers to fit machines and operate a system. Yet we are certain that the outcome will not deliver what is required and we ask them to consider our alternative Packaging Resource Commitment before taking on an inherently unworkable scheme.
Asda has told Zero Waste Scotland it surveyed almost 700 of its Scottish customers. Among its findings were: 94% of the respondents currently recycle and 84% have kerbside collections; of those recycling at home most are already recycling the materials covered in the feasibility study, including 98% who recycle plastic bottles; 71% said a DRS would be inconvenient; 76% strongly disliked the idea of having to take items to recycling points; and 87% thought it would discriminate against people who couldn’t easily get to recycling points.
