Orkney to pilot Scotland-wide deposit return scheme

Orkney is due to lead the way on a ground-breaking Scotland-wide recycling scheme next year.

The Council has signed up to assist with the pilot of the UK’s first deposit return scheme -  which, once fully operational, will help to recycle billions of bottles and cans annually.

The proposed pilot scheme will see a Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) installed at a central location, likely to be Kirkwall, with the management of the RVM being carried out by a local charity or community organisation.

Any containers deposited in the RVM will generate a 5p charitable donation to the community partner.

All costs of the scheme will be covered by the Scottish Government and the intention is for the RVM to be operational by November 2022 - with the rest of Scotland following behind in 2023.

The Orkney pilot will help Zero Waste Scotland to test consumer behaviour and gain a better understanding of the impact on local communities and local authority recycling collection services.

The intention behind the full scheme is to ensure that at least 90% of all drinks containers are returned for recycling and reprocessing.

The final scheme proposals are for people to pay a 20p deposit when they buy a drink that comes in a single-use container made of PET plastic, steel and aluminium, or glass - and get their money back when they return the empty container to a return point. No such charge will be levied during the pilot scheme.

Councillor Graham Sinclair, Chair of Orkney Council's Development and Infrastructure Committee, said:

“Orkney Islands Council is committed to working with both local and national organisations to improve recycling rates and to ensure that materials are kept in use for as long as possible.  We welcome this initiative on the return of drinks containers in Orkney and are supportive of the aims and objectives.

“We look forward to working with the Scottish Government, Circularity Scotland and Zero Waste Scotland to ensure that this initiative brings benefit to local community groups and increases opportunities for recycling drinks containers across all of Orkney.”

Addressing parliament, Lorna Slater, the Circular Economy Minister, set out plans for a phased implementation of the scheme, and said the target of achieving 90% collection rates by 2024 will be maintained.

As part of the phased implementation, the Scottish Government is working with retailers on a voluntary basis to enable people to start returning their bottles and cans for recycling from November 2022.

Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater said:

"This will be the first scheme of its kind in the UK and one of the most environmentally ambitious and accessible in Europe.

“Implementing a scheme on this scale is a massive national undertaking involving tens of thousands of producers and retailers. Given the challenges that the pandemic and Brexit have placed upon these businesses, it is disappointing - but understandable - that the independent review concluded the original start date was no longer feasible.

“Despite calls to water down the scheme by removing materials or waiting for other nations to catch up, we have maintained our ambition and ensured that the scheme will still meet its original target of achieving 90% collection rates by 2024.

“We have also published a clear plan for delivery, with critical milestones on the path to full implementation. These include use of return points on a voluntary basis by retailers from November 2022.

“I am also delighted that Orkney will go early in offering a return scheme, which will provide benefits to the local community and recycling.”

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland said:

“Zero Waste Scotland is proud to have advised on the design of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme, a gamechanger with multiple benefits including reduced carbon emissions, more and better recycling, and the removal of up to one third of the litter from our streets.

“Despite the uncertainty wrought by the pandemic I’m delighted we now have a go-live date for this important scheme, which Zero Waste Scotland will continue to support.

“We are excited to be working with Orkney Islands Council, Circularity Scotland and the Scottish Government on an initiative in Orkney from next year.”