The banks of Loch Long in Argyll have become a plastic dumping ground. Known as the Arrochar litter sink, the loch is hit by prevailing winds and earth rotation which brings debris from the surrounding waterways, bringing about around 62,000 items every year. About 11% of waste from the River Clyde, which flows through Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow, and its tributaries, ultimately ends up at Arrochar. The beach has been continually filled with waste, making it hard for local residents to keep up with the cleanup process. An inordinate amount of rubbish is matted in seaweed, which used to be harvested for fertiliser before it was deemed too hazardous to use.
According to campaigners, the only long-term solution would be to handle waste before it reaches the water and enters rivers in the first place. A deposit return scheme for bottles and cans could make a significant contribution to avoiding the problem. Scotland intended to implement the recycling effort by 2023 however, the government delayed it following objections from businesses regarding glass. Later, it became known that the UK government was considering halting Scotland’s plans since it wants a single scheme for all four nations.
UK ministers eventually acceded to the exemption, on the condition that glass did not feature in Scottish proposals so they could align it with England’s plan. That decision sparked a row, eventually prompting Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater to announce a further delay. Consequently, Wales chose to opt out of the UK-wide proposition and set up its deposit return scheme. The initiative has proved a success in Ireland, registering almost a billion returns in the first year.
Some shop owners had initial reservations, although some have seen an increase in footfall in their stores. The initiative’s aims are to reduce littering by 33% and raise the recycling of single-use drink containers to 90%. Scotland’s Green Minister Lorna Slater explained that her hope was that glass would eventually be featured in the scheme. However, the present priority was to ensure there were no further roll-out delays.
The deposit return scheme is anticipated to boost Scotland’s recycling rates, which have maintained the same level for a decade. Figures indicate that the proportion of household waste recycled only marginally rose from 42.9% in 2014 to 43.5% in 2023. Environmental charities such as the MCS and Keep Scotland Beautiful agree that any further delays to the programme’s roll-out are unacceptable. The deadline reportedly passed on Monday for applications to run the scheme in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, with Scottish ministers committed to implementing it by 2027
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