Kerbside collections better than deposit schemes for Scottish recycling suggests Food and Drink Federation chief

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The director general of the Food and Drink Federation has said that the proposed deposit scheme in Scotland would “undermine” kerbside recycling schemes.

Writing in the Scotsman newspaper, Ian Wright (pictured) said that the deposit scheme being consulted on by the Scottish Government would “prove costly and onerous for both business and Scottish consumers”.

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He added: “It would undermine existing kerbside recycling collections and would not increase recycling rates and/or reduce litter as claimed. We are also concerned that no cost-benefit report was published alongside the research report, nor did the consultants appear to consult widely with retailers, local authorities or waste management companies.”

But he warned that a deposit scheme could cost Scottish households an extra £87 million per year if they forget to return the bottles or cans for recycling.

Consumers would also be inconvenienced by having to return, queue and redeem their containers at recycling vending machines that could be miles away from where they live.

He added: “Local authority household collection schemes have achieved good rates of recycling. It would seem sensible from an environmental and economic standpoint to build on these, rather than set up a parallel system which would not produce the expected benefits, while affecting the competitiveness of Scotland’s largest manufacturing sector.”