Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
The aim of the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020 is to promote and secure an increase in the recycling of certain materials.
By applying a deposit of 20p to drinks in the most common single-use packaging, the scheme will encourage people to return that packaging to specified return points, where they will be able to reclaim the deposit. This will mean more of these containers will be collected for recycling.
Who will the Regulations Affect?
The Regulations will affect producers, retailers and consumers of single-use drinks in containers made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET plastic), steel, aluminium or glass.
What are the main provisions of the new Regulations?
The main provisions of the new Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020 are:
Who will enforce the Regulations?
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) will enforce the Regulations.
Key Dates
13 May 2020: Regulations passed by the Scottish Parliament
1 January 2022: producers can register with SEPA and start to place deposit-bearing containers on the market
1 July 2022: the scheme goes live for consumers. All drinks containers purchased by retailers for sale to a consumer in Scotland must bear a deposit and retailers who sell drinks must start acting as return points.
Further Information
The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020
Groundwater in Northern Ireland, DAERA have produced a leaflet to raise awareness about this untapped resource
EU Exit, EU Exit useful information
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