Perthshire businesses have met with a leading Scottish politician to discuss the merits of setting up a deposit return system for drinks containers.
Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, met with representatives from Crieff Hydro, Birnam Arts Centre, Giraffe Trading and Mountaineering Scotland to look into the possibility of going down this route, which is supported by the Have You Got the Bottle? campaign.
It’s believed there are around 33 million plastic bottles bought in the UK every day and a number of Perthshire businesses want to see a deposit return system introduced to reduce litter in local towns and the countryside.
The campaign is led by the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland, and supporter organisations include the Marine Conservation Society, Friends of the Earth Scotland, WWF Scotland, Surfers Against Sewage, Ramblers Scotland, and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.
In addition to tackling littered drinks cans and bottles, the campaign outlines that deposit returns can boost recycling.
On June 30, the Scottish Government announced plans to commission options for a Scotland-specific deposit returns system for drinks containers.
Mr Fraser said he welcomed the opportunity to meet local businesses who support the idea of a deposit return scheme and to hear their views on how this could work in Perthshire.
“Whether businesses and organisations support or have concerns about a deposit return, it’s important to discuss how we can best support the circular economy and keep down local councils’ costs,” he said.
“The Scottish Government has recently commissioned options for a Scotland-specific system and it’s important that the implications for small businesses in particular are fully considered during this review.”
He continued: “Perthshire is one of Scotland’s most picturesque and beautiful parts of the country and we need to consider all options that will help reduce litter in our towns and countryside and help protect the environment.”
And Alexandra MacDonald, welfare and environment manager at Crieff Hydro Hotel, added: “It was a very informative and productive discussion about similar waste management practices, in other countries and the positive impact that it would have here. It is definitely something that should be considered in Scotland.”
James Mackenzie, of the Have You Got The Bottle? campaign, commented: “It was great to meet Murdo Fraser and we appreciate he took the time to learn more about deposit return. It is important that any deposit return system be designed to work well for the public, for local authorities, and for small Scottish businesses, including retailers and bars as well as producers.”
Neil Reid, of Mountaineering Scotland, said he feels the scheme would be useful to help “tackle the increasing problem” of litter in the countryside.
