Scotland’s deposit return scheme delayed

Scotland’s Circular Economy Minister announced that the country’s proposed deposit return scheme would not be introduced until October 2025 or later and would be more limited than originally planned.

Although the UK government has reportedly approved a partial exemption for the Scottish scheme, the United Kingdom indicated that glass bottles would be excluded, because schemes due to be launched in England and Northern Ireland in October 2025 would include PET plastic, aluminium, and steel cans, but not glass.

Scottish retailers, producers, and the hospitality sector had pressed for a delay, seeking more preparation time, and requesting that the Scottish scheme be introduced when proposals for other parts of the United Kingdom are introduced.