A Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland: Final Business Regulatory Impact Assessment

12. Implementation and Delivery Plan

309. Consistent with the principle of producer responsibility, Scottish Ministers have placed responsibility for delivery of DRS with those involved in the supply and operation of Scotland's drinks market. A final commencement date of 16 August 2023 is included in the amending Regulations, laid in Parliament on 14 December 2021, and it is at that point that DRS will be considered fully operational.

310. A key visible milestone for consumers will be when retailers start rolling out the extensive recycling infrastructure in their stores from summer 2022. We are working together with the retail industry to start phasing in the use of this infrastructure on a voluntary basis from November 2022. We recognise that the needs of rural areas may be different from other more populated parts of the country. I am pleased therefore to let you know that there will be a return scheme in place in Orkney, also in November, which will provide benefits to the community.

311. Applications for retailers seeking an exemption from the obligation to operate a return point, and for persons seeking to operate a voluntary return point, opened on 1 January 2022 and remain open. All drinks producers selling into the Scottish market must register with SEPA either directly or through a scheme administrator (such as CSL). Registration with SEPA will open on 1 January 2023 and close on 28 February 2023.

312. The amending Regulations specify a two-year ramp-up period for scheme targets (compared to the three-year period set in the original Regulations). From calendar year 2025 onwards, producers will have to collect 90% of the packaging they place on the market.