1. Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme
Claire Munro, Communications Lead, Deposit Return Scheme

5. What is a deposit return scheme?

6. How does it work?
Deposit return is a crucial part of the strategy planned by the Scottish Government to tackle climate change and the problems created by single-use items. It will help us all to change our throwaway culture.
What’s included in the scheme?
PET plastic bottles, metal cans, glass bottles are included in the scheme
When you buy a drink one of these single-use containers, you’ll pay a 20p deposit
Where can people return empty containers?
You can return your empty container to any shop or takeaway restaurant.
You can hand back containers in different ways:
Over the counter
Through a machine (called a Reverse Vending Machine)
Via an online retailer
What happens then?
You get your deposit back
Community groups can get involved too. For example, community groups, such as schools, could act as return points.
The empty bottles and cans are collected for recycling.
The scheme will capture 90% of containers in the scheme for recycling.
How will the scheme be run?
The scheme will be managed by the producers of the drinks, and retailers. As a form of extended producer responsibility, it will be funded by producers. This is in line with the way most schemes work internationally.
How will it be paid for?
The scheme will be paid for through three sources of funding: unredeemed deposits, revenue from the sale of materials and a producer fee.

8. Deposit return schemes are used in 45 countries and territories around the world…from Sweden to Saskatchewan

10. Tackling Climate Change
Benefits
Social benefits
Behaviour Change
Recycling quality
The Economy
Tackling Climate Change
Recycling quantity
Litter prevention

11. Currently, Scotland recycles just half of drinks containers

12. Scotland’s deposit return scheme aims to capture at least 90% of target containers
for recycling.

13. Scotland’s deposit return scheme will capture an estimated 1
Scotland’s deposit return scheme will capture an estimated 1.5bn drinks containers for recycling each year.

14. That’s an average of around 160,000 tonnes of CO2eq each year, the equivalent of taking 85,500 cars off the road

15. With over 17,000 return points across Scotland (over 10,000 of which will be hospitality), it will be just as easy to return a drinks container, as it is to buy one

16. Key Messages & Benefits
Scotland’s scheme
World-class
Easy, accessible
Game-changer (for recycling, litter, behaviour)
Circular
Evidence-based
Industry-funded

17. What Can I Do? Follow us on social media!
Show your support using #DepositReturn
Share our content with your friends and contacts
Visit depositreturn.scot for info and updates
Sign up for our stakeholder newsletter
Download our stakeholder pack

18. Thank you For more information, including a comprehensive list of
FAQs, please visit:
Depositreturn.scot
@ZeroWasteScot
#DepositReturn
We issue a regular stakeholder newsletter.
To sign up, contact: