Bottle deposit scheme information: FOI release

Information requested

1. How much money has the Scottish Government spent on the bottle deposit scheme so far with a breakdown of these costs?

2. Copies of any research done into why it is all drinks materials being recycled instead of just one certain material like glass or aluminium or any risk assessments done about this?

3. Have any shops or business premises applied for deposit return vending machines and if so, can I get a list of who has applied?

4. Is there a provisional plan for the logo being used by drinks producers and if so can I receive the image/plans and are you getting rid of the original UK-wide recycling logo?

Response

I enclose a response to each of your requests in turn below.

How much money has the Scottish Government spent on the bottle deposit scheme so far with a breakdown of these costs?
Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme is an industry led and funded scheme, no public money has been spent on the running of the scheme. There were however some costs associated with the setup of the scheme, and details of that expenditure have been published previously, and that information is available here: Cost of setting up bottle return scheme: EIR release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Copies of any research done into why it is all drinks materials being recycled instead of just one certain material like glass or aluminium or any risk assessments done about this?
Details of the evidence basis and rationale behind the materials included in the scheme can be found here in the Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland Full Business Case Stage 1 - A Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland - Full Business Case Stage 1 (www.gov.scot). That publication also contains details of the main risks, mitigating actions and counter measures.

Have any shops or business premises applied for deposit return vending machines and if so, can I get a list of who has applied?
Businesses have to make their own arrangements in terms of whether or not they elect to purchase or lease Reverse Vending Machines. The Scottish Government is not involved in private purchasing decisions. Therefore, we do not hold this information.

Is there a provisional plan for the logo being used by drinks producers and if so can I receive the image/plans and are you getting rid of the original UK-wide recycling logo?
The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020 do not mandate the use of any specific logos. The Scheme Administrator, Circularity Scotland, has developed an optional logo in partnership with industry but it is for individual producers to decide whether or not to use it.

An exemption applies
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the websites listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing information which is otherwise accessible as outlined above, outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.