Deposit Return Scheme delayed until 2025

The Deposit Return Scheme has been delayed until October 2025. Originally planned to launch in August this year, the scheme was delayed until March 2024.

However, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity Lorna Slater confirmed today, 7 June, that the scheme will be delayed once again.

Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: "The climate, nature and litter emergencies need committed action now. A well-designed Deposit Return Scheme can play a crucial part in tackling litter and waste and creating a more circular economy. 

“We’ve consistently called for an all-in Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) to maximise environmental benefits and provide value for money - because a scheme that accepts the same material types makes it easy for people to understand and use, and clearer for businesses to support the implementation. 

“It is really disheartening that despite a Scotland wide proposal gaining cross-party support in 2019 we still have no operational scheme. It is particularly frustrating when we know there are successful deposit return systems operational in other countries and we fail to understand why the UK/Scotland implementation is taking so long and is proving so difficult to implement."

Scotland is currently facing a litter emergency. We will continue to work with our partners, volunteers and relevant stakeholders to ensure this is taken seriously, and everyone plays their part in tackling this issue.