Zero Waste Scotland’s role in Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme

Zero Waste Scotland was tasked by the Scottish Government with advising on the design of the scheme.

Who is running the scheme?

Zero Waste Scotland provides support alongside SEPA and the Scottish Government. SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) is the scheme regulator and will oversee compliance with the scheme.

As the scheme administrator, Circularity Scotland is responsible for implementing and running the scheme.  

Circularity Scotland Ltd is an industry-led body representing a combination of drinks producers, trade associations and retailers, they are not-for-profit private-sector enterprise and are responsible for running the scheme. Read more about Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme on their website.

What is Zero Waste Scotland’s role in the scheme?

Zero Waste Scotland plays an important role in supporting the Scottish Government to ensure that the full environmental ambitions of the scheme are realised and highlighted.

Zero Waste Scotland advised the Scottish Government on the design of the scheme and provides ongoing policy support, as well as leading on delivery of Return & Recycle Orkney and managing the exemptions service.

We manage the application process for return point exemptions and voluntary return points and in the lead up to launch will be delivering communications to provide further guidance on these.

As part of our role to promote and facilitate more and better recycling and the development of a circular economy, where resources are valued, we advocate for the environmental benefits expected from the introduction of a deposit return scheme in Scotland.

International Consultation

Deposit return schemes are already being used effectively in almost 50 countries and territories around the world, from Sweden to Saskatchewan. These established schemes capture up to 95% of target containers.

As such, together with the Scottish Government, Zero Waste Scotland conducted in-depth evidence gathering and consulted with hundreds of organisations – from retailers and manufacturers to councils and community groups during scheme design, in Scotland, as well as the UK and all around the world – learning from countries that already operate a deposit return scheme and building on our existing research./p>

Read more about the international consultation here.

To find out more about Zero Waste Scotland’s role, visit this page.