ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has given evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee on the proposed regulations of a deposit return scheme in Scotland.
In the evidence session, ACS called for the Scottish Government to ensure that the regulations consider the impact on local shops, emphasising the operational, cost and time pressures that the draft regulations would have on the colleagues in store.
Speaking during the evidence session, ACS head of policy and public affairs Edward Woodall said: “We are pleased that the regulations offer retailers potential exemptions on their obligations to operate a return point based on ‘reasonable proximity’, but further clarification is needed on the application process, assessment criteria and how this will work in practice."
Mr Woodall continued: “The return points for containers should be strategically mapped to ensure that the system is more workable for retailers and does not place any undue burdens on local shops. Locations of returns points should be evidenced-based, taking into account capacity, proximity and consumer demand in order to develop a more efficient and cost-effective system for the whole of Scotland.”
The Committee’s inquiry examined the proposed regulations for a deposit return scheme in Scotland focusing on: operational implications, costs, timeframes, materials in scope, exemptions and the return-to-retailer model. The regulations as set out include:
- the Scottish Ministers may exempt a retailer from acting as a return point where specific criteria are met and may approve any other person who wishes to act as a return point
- the deposit will be set at 20p
- materials will include: PET plastic, steel, aluminium and glass drinks containers
- retailers must operate a return point at premises from which the point of sale of products are made
- retailers selling products by means of distance sales (e.g. through an online grocery sale and delivery service) to provide takeback services from the site of delivery to consumers who have purchased those items
ACS also provided the Committee with written evidence, available here.
