Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, has today announced Scottish Government plans to commission options for a Scotland-specific deposit return system for drinks containers.

Coca Cola have today announced their support for a deposit return system for cans and bottles in Scotland, stating in Holyrood Magazine [1] that “the time is right to trial new interventions such as a well-designed deposit scheme for drinks containers, starting in Scotland where conversations are underway”. This is an unprecedented move from the world’s largest manufacturer of soft drinks, which has historically opposed deposit systems around the world prior to their introduction.

In August 2016, Dundee University became the first of Scotland’s universities to join “Have You Got The Bottle?,” a Scotland-wide campaign to introduce a deposit return system for single-use cans and bottles. Dundee University took part in a Zero Waste Scotland pilot project in 2013, and, due to its popularity with students and staff alike has kept its reverse vending machines in operation ever since (1).

On 22nd March 2016, Midlothian Council backed a Scottish deposit return system for drinks cans and bottles, as Aberdeenshire Council had earlier that month.

On 11th March 2016, Aberdeenshire Council unanimously backed Democratic Independent and Green Councillor Paul Johnston’s motion supporting the introduction of a deposit return system for single-use cans and bottles.

In March 2016, a month after Lithuania became the latest country to adopt deposit return for single-use cans and bottles in order to reduce litter, cut local government costs, boost recycling, and tackle climate change, those involved with the Lithuanian system urged Scotland to launch a deposit return system too.