[responsivevoice_button voice=”UK English Male” buttontext=”Listen to Post”]
The Zero Waste Scotland team will be at the Elgin Library next week, on Saturday 22 September, from 11am to 3pm to give local people an opportunity to share their thoughts on how a deposit return scheme could work best for them.
Under a deposit return scheme, customers pay a small deposit when they buy drinks in, for example, a bottle or a can, and then get the deposit back when they return the empty container for recycling. A public consultation on a deposit return scheme for Scotland was officially opened by the Scottish Government on 27 June 2018, and will remain open until 25 September.
The Zero Waste Scotland team will be particularly interested to hear local views on choices such as the level of deposit, which products should have a deposit on them, where they should be able to take their empty drinks containers to get the deposit back, and whether they’d like the option to donate the deposit instead.
Sophie Thirkell, Zero Waste Scotland, said: “We have been really encouraged by the response from members of the public at all the events so far and we are looking forward to visiting Elgin Library, and hearing from the local community. Now that a public consultation on a Scottish deposit return scheme is live we want as many people as possible to have their say; by doing so, you’ll be helping us consider how a deposit return scheme could work best for Scotland.
“We’ve all seen the footage from Blue Planet II of the tragic effects that items we commonly use can have on wildlife when they end up in our oceans and landscape. That’s why we’re going out and about across Scotland to ask for people’s views on a Scottish deposit return scheme – which represents a huge opportunity to improve recycling, reduce litter and create economic opportunities for Scotland at the same time, so we urge you to come along and speak to us on the day.”
Councillor Graham Leadbitter, Leader of Moray Council, said: “A deposit return scheme has the potential to raise the recycling bar in Scotland even higher. As a nation we are a world leader in tackling environmental issues and when it comes to recycling Moray is one of the foremost authorities in Scotland.
“People across Moray are hugely committed to recycling and Zero Waste Scotland’s consultation is an opportunity for people in our region to share their views and experience of recycling to help develop the best possible deposit return scheme.”
Sheila Campbell, Principal Librarian, Elgin Library, said: “Moray Libraries are looking forward to welcoming Zero Waste Scotland to the area. Groups previously using Elgin Library for community engagement have found that the location enabled contact with a wide range of people from all backgrounds.
“Book lending is a well-established form of recycling and we hope that visitors to Elgin Library can use this opportunity to talk to Zero Waste Scotland to find out more and share their opinions about the deposit return scheme.”
This event is part of a series of public events that Zero Waste Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government, will deliver around the country. The current programme is available at www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/deposit-return-scheme-events. A live webinar was also held on Monday 27 August for those who couldn’t make it to an event.
More information on deposit return is available on the Zero Waste Scotland website at www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/deposit-return-scheme