Our Head of Operations Paul Wallace presents the data and evidence we have which highlights the opportunities that lie ahead with the forthcoming introduction of a UK Deposit Return Scheme to make Scotland's communities cleaner.
Data published in our two latest reports [2025 Scottish Litter Survey and How clean are our streets?] just last week highlight some really worrying trends. Life does seem rubbish at the moment: across Scotland 79% report seeing litter often. But, when asked about the specifics of single-use drinks litter the stats speak a little louder:
- 70% of people report seeing littered drinks cans and plastic bottles littered regularly;
- 29% report seeing plastic bottles as litter more now than 12 months ago; and
- 17% report seeing drinks cans as litter more now than a year ago.
Additionally, we know from our extensive surveys of litter lying in our communities that 8.7% of all litter counted by our surveyors was plastic bottles and cans – with more cans (5.1% of all litter) than bottles (3.7% of all litter).
We recorded a presence of litter which would be recoverable under a Deposit Return Scheme at 29.5% of sites nationally. Interestingly, cans were found at 23.7% of sites audited and plastic bottles at 15.5% of sites. But, importantly, in high density residential areas almost 41% of sites were littered with plastic bottles or cans, and this rose further in areas of significant deprivation to 48%. It is clear that if we are to make a big difference, we need to ensure that the ability to return cans and plastic bottles as part of a deposit scheme is easy, accessible and highly visible to people in the communities most impacted.
As expected in places with high footfall, town centre areas and high-density residential areas there were more littered bottles and cans – rising from 1.1 nationally to 1.6 items per 100m2. Of even more concern is that in areas deemed more deprived there was an average of 3.2 items which could be returned for a financial reward.
So, what does all this information – the data we have going back years which we are able to interpret, identify trends and use to develop campaign messaging – tell us?
It tells us that people are seeing more plastic bottles and cans as litter now than they were 12 months ago, it tells us that a Deposit Return Scheme needs to work for our most deprived communities and target places where people are in large numbers – town centres and high-density residential areas. It confirms that for every day we don’t have a way of capturing these items we are likely to see an increasing flow of new drinks related litter items into our streets and public spaces.
Despite the many challenges we face there is hope on the horizon: in October 2027, alongside other UK nations, Scotland will see a much-anticipated Deposit Return Scheme introduced. A UK Deposit Management Organisation has been appointed and is now working to design and deliver the schemes infrastructure. We have been pleased to contribute our data, evidence and thoughts via the Consumer Engagement Forum to ensure that the scheme is as successful as possible when it goes live.
An effective and well-designed Deposit Return Scheme could have a huge impact in removing significant contributors to Scotland's litter emergency, while also increasing uncontaminated recycling rates, reducing carbon emissions and promoting circular economy principles.
Just across the water in the Republic of Ireland, a Deposit Return Scheme has been in place since February 2024. In just over a year and a half the number of littered cans and bottles has decreased by 50%. This gives us confidence that when the public in Scotland are asked and incentivised to shift their behaviours, they will embrace the change.
Our recent trial with New College Lanarkshire – where Coca-Cola Europacific Partners funded a 20p incentive at existing Reverse Vending Machines on campuses – provides confirmation that clearly communicated and incentivised return systems drive behaviour shifts, with students, increases recycling massively and reduces litter on the ground of these items. The full report will be published later this year.
Based on the experience in Ireland, it is clear that working together, national and local government, businesses, and our sector, can achieve impressive results in a short period of time. While we might have liked a Scottish Deposit Return Scheme two years ago, we welcome the forthcoming UK scheme - it is a big piece of the jigsaw that will help us tackle litter levels in Scotland.
While there is work to do to ensure a Deposit Return Scheme is a success, we can all play our part on an individual level now.
We can reduce what we buy in single-use drinks containers. And we can recycle on the go or take cans and bottles home to recycle there.
We can all do something to ensure our lives are a little bit less rubbish!
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