Alupro raises concern over Scotland’s plan to introduce deposit return system

Alupro has objected to the Scottish Government’s plan to introduce 20p deposit return system for all sizes of containers. The proposed 20p deposit will lead to unintended consequences, specifically on the sales of multi-pack cans.

“This is double the level typically used in the Scandinavian DRS programmes,” Alupro said. “The proposed 20p deposit would increase the cost of 24 cans in a multipack by £4.80 whilst the same volume of drink sold in four 2-litre plastic bottles would increase by 80p.”

Alupro said that they have raised concerns directly with the Scottish Government and Zero Waste Scotland.

In the UK nearly 80% of drinks cans are sold in multi-pack format and in Scandinavia, a majority of cans are sold individually, according to Alupro.

 Research conducted in Scotland on Alupro’s behalf revealed that almost all (97%) of alcoholic cans from a multi-pack was drunk in the home and 72% placed in household recycling. 

The impact of the proposed 20p deposit is expected to be even more significant and would result in more plastic bottles being sold, and a decline in the number of infinitely recyclable aluminium cans sold, according to Alupro.

“In order to avoid distorting the market, we believe the deposit should vary according to the size of the container, as it does in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.  This would then help to level the playing field across multi-pack cans and large format plastic bottles.  We also advocate no cross-subsidy of materials; and that the high value and infinite recyclability of aluminium is recognised in the product fee,” Alupro said.