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Publication - Consultation analysis

Deposit return scheme consultation: analysis of responses

Published
21 February 2019
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Part of
Environment and climate change
ISBN
9781787815964

Analysis of reponses to the deposit return scheme for Scotland consultation.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Annex 3: Question response rates

Question Organisations Individuals
Number of responses % of total responses (base=159) Number of responses % of total responses (base=2,008)
What materials will be collected?
Q1 Which of the options do you prefer? Please choose one or more options from below
  • PET plastic containers
  • PET plastic containers and metal cans
  • PET plastic containers + glass containers + metal cans
  • PET plastic containers + glass containers + metal cans + HDPE plastic containers
  • PET plastic containers + glass containers + metal cans + cartons + disposable cups. 
 159 100% 2,008 100%
Q1a Please explain your reasoning. 138  87%  951 47%
Q2 Do you think the scheme should start with a core set of materials and then be expanded as appropriate? Please pick one. [Yes / No / Don't know] 145 91% 1,759 88%
Q2a             If yes, which materials should it start with?         
  • PET plastic
 81 51% 1,126 56%
  • Metal (aluminium and steel) 
 63 40% 734 37%
  • Glass 
 36 23% 768 38%
  • HDPE plastic 
 31 19% 690 34%
  • Cartons 
 25 16% 435 22%
  • Disposable cups
 23 14% 526 26%
Q2b             If yes, which materials do you think should be added later?        
  • PET plastic
 3 2% 143 7%
  • Metal (aluminium and steel) 
 11 7% 436 22%
  • Glass 
 21 13% 390 19%
  • HDPE plastic 
 18 11% 496 25%
  • Cartons 
 32 20% 648 32%
  • Disposable cups
 31 19% 547 27%
Question Organisations Individuals
Number of responses % of total responses (base=159) Number of responses % of total responses (base=2,008)
Q3               Are there any materials that you think should not be included?         
  • PET plastic
 – 0% 20 1%
  • Metal (aluminium and steel) 
 11 7% 48 2%
  • Glass 
 43 27% 53 3%
  • HDPE plastic 
 47 30% 43 2%
  • Cartons 
 34 21% 100 5%
  • Disposable cups
 48 30% 180 9%
Please explain your reasons.  115 72% 610 30%
Q4 Are there any other materials not already listed that should be included? 64 40% 533 27%
Q5 Are you aware of any materials currently in development that should be included? For instance, there is currently a great deal of interest in making ‘bioplastics’ either from starch derived from plants or food by product streams. Whilst these can look and behave like plastic, it is often important to ensure they are kept separate from plastic in the waste stream as they are recycled differently. 111 70% 601 30%
Q6 What are your views on the cost implications for local authorities? 128 81% 1,156 58%
What type of products will have a deposit on them?
Q7 Do you think the material the container is made from or the product it contains should be the key consideration for deciding the scope of the scheme? 
  • Material the container is made from
  • Product it contains 
  • Don't know
 133 84% 1,935 96%
Q7a If no, please explain your reasons. 119 75% 1,005 50%
Question Organisations Individuals
Number of responses % of total responses (base=159) Number of responses % of total responses (base=2,008)
Q8                     Are there any product categories that should be excluded from the scheme?         
  • Ready to drink (soft) 
 3 2% 29 1%
  • Soft mixer products 
 13 8% 30 1%
  • Bottled water 
 3 2% 33 2%
  • Fruit and vegetable juice 
 15 9% 46 2%
  • Dairy 
 54 34% 90 4%
  • All distilled spirits with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of higher than 30% 
 24 15% 61 3%
  • All fermented alcohol products including beer, cider and wine. Also includes non-alcoholic versions of the above 
 25 16% 48 2%
  • All other alcohol not covered in the “distilled spirits” and “fermented alcohol” categories with a ABV less than 30% 
 24 15% 48 2%
  • All other drinks, not listed above, that can be purchased to drink on the go
 10 6% 72 4%
Please explain your reasons. 122 77% 860 43%
Q9   Are there any product categories that you broadly agree with but think that certain products within them should be excluded? [Yes / No / Don’t know] 86  54%  1,349 67% 
Please give us specific reasons for exempting anything. 48 30% 169 8%
Q10 Are there any other products that broadly fall into the category of ‘drinks’ that we have not included that you think should be? 84 53% 513 26%
Q11   Do you think that the deposit return scheme should be limited to “on the go” only? [Yes / No / Don't know] 149 94% 1,911 95%
Please explain why.  139 87% 995 50%
Q11a Do you agree with how we have defined on the go? 114 72% 645 32%

Question

Organisations

Individuals

Number of responses

% of total responses (base=159)

Number of responses

% of total responses (base=2,008)

Questions related to dairy issues

Q12

Specifically on dairy products, do you think including dairy carries hygiene or related risks above those posed by other products? [Yes / No / Don't know]

123

77%

1,499

75%

Please provide evidence.  

95

60%

557

28%

Q13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should any dairy products be excluded from the system?

 

 

 

 
  • All ready-to-drink milk and other dairy (fresh and long life) 

42

26%

86

4%
  • All dairy alternatives. 

27

17%

51

3%
  • Milkshakes 

26

16%

45

2%
  • Flavoured milks 

27

17%

46

2%
  • Milk based smoothies 

26

16%

44

2%
  • Ready to drink coffee and tea drinks

26

16%

41

2%
  • Ready to drink yogurt and probiotic yogurt drinks

26

16%

57

3%
 

Please explain your reasons.

103

65%

651

32%

Where you will be able to get the deposit back

Q14

Which option for return location do you prefer?

  • Take back to a place that sells drinks 
  • Take back to a designated drop-off point 
  • Mixture of take back to a place that sells drinks and designated drop-off points

140

88%

1,931

96%

Please explain your reasons.

137

86%

1,172

58%

Q15

In any model involving return to retail, are there any types of retailer that should be excluded?  [Yes / No / Don't know]

126

79%

1,505

75%

Please explain your reasons.

106

67%

617

31%

Q16

Do you agree that online retailers should be included in the scheme? [Yes / No / Don't know]

134

84%

1,650

82%
Question Organisations Individuals
Number of responses % of total responses (base=159) Number of responses % of total responses (base=2,008)
Q16a What provisions do you think should be made to ensure online shopping is included successfully? 93 58% 855 43%
How the scheme will be paid for
Q17 Do you agree that deposit return should be seen as a form of producer responsibility? [Yes / No / Don't know] 137 86% 1,530 76%
Q17a If yes, do you think deposit return would impact on other producer responsibility obligations? Please explain your reasoning. 120 75% 590 29%
Q18 Do you think it is appropriate for the scheme administrator to maintain ownership and income from sales of the material? [Yes / No / Don't know] 123 77% 1,403 70%
Please explain your reasons. 111 70% 535 27%
Q19 If the scheme administrator maintains ownership of the material, should it prioritise maximising profit from sales or should it seek to achieve additional benefits?
  • Maximise profit from sales
  • Pursue other benefits
  • Don’t know
 107 67% 1,111 55%
Q19a If you selected pursue additional benefits, which benefit should the administrator pursue?  104 65% 683 34%
Q20 Should any excess funding or unredeemed deposits be ringfenced for the continued maintenance or improvement of the system, or do you think it would be appropriate to divert funding to other purposes? 
  • Funding should be ringfenced
  • Use for other purposes
 134 84% 1,471 73%
Q21 How would you define a producer? 119 75% 801 40%
Consumer communication and labelling
Q22 Do you agree that producers should be required to put deposit return scheme-related information on each container? [Yes / No / Don't know] 132 83% 1,512 75%
Question Organisations Individuals
Number of responses % of total responses (base=159) Number of responses % of total responses (base=2,008)
Q22a If yes, should those putting small amounts of material onto the market in Scotland be exempt from this labelling requirement? [Yes / No / Don't know] 122 77% 1,432 71%
Q22b If so what do you think the limit for this should be? 60 38% 228 11%
Q22c Rather than be exempt, should small importers be required to put a label with deposit return-related information onto the existing packaging? [Yes / No / Don't know] 119 75% 1,433 71%
Q22d If no, what are your reasons?  46 29% 141 7%
Fraud and security issues
Q23   Which option for labelling do you believe offers the best balance between reducing potential for fraud and managing costs to producers and retailers?
  • No changes to current system
  • Specific barcode
  • High security label
 114 72% 1,216 61%
Please elaborate. 106 67% 502 25%
Q24 Are there other security measures we should be considering, for instance heightened security measures at key return locations? [Yes / No / Don't know] 116 73% 1,273 63%
Comments 88 55% 358 18%
Q25   Do you have a preference for what level the deposit should be set at? [Yes / No / Don't know] 139 87% 1,853 92%
Please explain your reasoning for choosing this level. 140 88% 1,455 72%
Q26   Do you think that certain types of drinks containers should carry a different deposit level? [Yes / No / Don't know] 133 84% 1,595 79%
Please explain which ones and why you think the deposit should be varied. 106 67% 762 38%
Question Organisations Individuals
Number of responses % of total responses (base=159) Number of responses % of total responses (base=2,008)
What infrastructure to put in place, and the logistics involved
Q27 Which sorts of take back do you think the system should include?
  • Reverse Vending Machines
  • Manual take back
  • Combination of the two
 125 79% 1,338 67%
Q28 How should the handling fee paid to retailers be calculated?  114 72% 737 37%
Q29   Do you agree with the assessment of the potential job creation of between 12 and 116 jobs? [Yes / No / Don’t know] 98 62% 1,279 64%
Please explain your reasoning. 94 59% 385 19%
How to create additional benefits from the scheme
Q30 Do you think a deposit return scheme for Scotland should pursue any additional benefits? [Yes / No / Don't know] 122 77% 1,244 62%
Q31 Are there additional benefits we have not covered that you think should be considered?  106 67% 601 30%
Who owns the system
Q32   Which option do you think offers the best system ownership model to ensure the primary goals of a deposit return system are met?
  • Industry-operated not-for-profit
  • Privately owned and operated commercial operation
  • Public ownership 
  • A combination of the above
 125 79% 1,249 62%
Please provide more details of the combination in the box below. 83 52% 341 17%
Q33 How much emphasis should be placed on the system administrator achieving secondary benefits like ensuring Fair Work practices are followed and that the material collected is reprocessed in Scotland? 111 70% 833 41%
Q34 What do you see as the main roles for a scheme administrator? 113 71% 682 34%
Question Organisations Individuals
Number of responses % of total responses (base=159) Number of responses % of total responses (base=2,008)
How the system is regulated
Q35   Which option for regulating producers do you think is most appropriate?
  • Regulation by an existing body, most likely Trading Standards or SEPA 
  • The establishment of a new body to oversee regulation 
  • Regulation by the scheme administrator
 113 71% 1,099 55%
Please explain your reasons. 102 64% 558 28%
Q36   Which option for regulating return sites, including retailers, is most appropriate?
  • Regulation by an existing body, most likely Trading Standards or SEPA 
  • The establishment of a new body to oversee regulation 
  • Regulation by the scheme administrator
 110 69% 1,082 54%
Please explain your reasons.  95 60% 439 22%
Q37 What level of regulatory power do you think is appropriate for the system administrator? 89 56% 547 27%
Q38   In particular, do you think the administrator should have a role in approving products that go on sale to make sure they are compatible with the scheme? [Yes / No / Don't know] 115 72% 1,112 55%
Comments 85 53% 327 16%
Q39 Do you agree that the Scottish Government should be responsible for regulating the system administrator? [Yes / No / Don't know] 122 77% 1,142 57%
Q39a If yes, should this be done via SEPA? [Yes / No / Don't know] 109 69% 1,074 53%
Q39b If no, what other organisation should undertake this role? 71 45% 258 13%
Question Organisations Individuals
Number of responses % of total responses (base=159) Number of responses % of total responses (base=2,008)
Questions on example systems
Q40 Which example do you think best matches the ambition of a deposit return system to increase the rate and quality of recycling and reduce littering?
  • Example 1 Take back to designated drop-off points 
  • Example 2 Take back to dedicated drop-off points and some shops (with cartons and cups) 
  • Example 3 Take back to any place of purchase 
  • Example 4 Take back to any place of purchase (with cartons and cups)
 95 60% 1,248 62%
Q41   Do you agree with the assessment of Example 1? [Yes / No / Don't know] 100 63% 933 46%
Comments 72 45% 116 6%
Q42   Do you agree with the assessment of Example 2? [Yes / No / Don't know] 98 62% 948 47%
Comments 69 43% 108 5%
Q43   Do you agree with the assessment of Example 3? [Yes / No / Don't know] 99 62% 938 47%
Comments 73 46% 112 6%
Q44   Do you agree with the assessment of Example 4? [Yes / No / Don't know] 100 63% 965 48%
Comments 74 47% 137 7%
Q45 How do you think the NPV model could be further developed? What other factors should be included in the models? 75 47% 324 16%
Q46 What economic risks or opportunities do you see in introducing a deposit return scheme in Scotland? 106 67% 494 25%
Q47 Do you see particular risks with any of the examples? 91 57% 394 20%
Q48 What action do you think we could take to maximise the opportunities and minimise the risks of any of the approaches? 93 58% 408 20%
Co-operation with the UK Government
Q49   Do you think being part of a UK-wide system would be beneficial for deposit return in Scotland? [Yes / No / Don't know] 139 87% 1,306 65%
Please explain your reasons. 129 81% 724 36%
Question Organisations Individuals
Number of responses % of total responses (base=159) Number of responses % of total responses (base=2,008)
Q50   Do you think having compatible but separate systems would achieve the same effect as a single system? [Yes / No / Don't know] 118 74% 1,155 58%
Please explain your reasons. 94 59% 423 21%
Q51 Can you identify any risks with being part of a UK system? 96 60% 707 35%
Q52 Can you identify any risks with not being part of a UK system? 104 65% 659 33%
Equality impact questions cross referred to the EQIA
Q53   Have we correctly assessed potential impacts? [Yes / No / Don't know] 93 58% 962 48%
Comments 37 23% 105 5%
Q54   Do you think the proposed mitigation is comprehensive? [Yes / No / Don't know] 92 58% 946 47%
Comments 27 17% 79 4%

Contact

Email: Tim Chant DRSinScotland@gov.scot

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