Plans by Scotland secretary to block bottle deposit return scheme a ‘travesty’

Environmental campaigners furious Alister Jack intends to deny trade exemption for plastic recycling proposals

Blocking the Scottish deposit return scheme for bottles would be an environmental travesty, campaigners said, in a growing backlash to the UK government plans to undermine the project.

The charity City to Sea, which has been pushing for a deposit return scheme (DRS) to tackle plastic pollution, said the UK government could have avoided the clash with Scotland by working with the devolved countries to deliver a unified deposit scheme years ago. Instead Westminster had repeatedly delayed its own deposit scheme, which was only coming into force in 2025 – seven years after it was first promised by ministers.