REGULATIONS laid in the Scottish Parliament last week to introduce a form of DRS in Scotland could severely disadvantage cans and consumer.

Under the current proposed regulations, beverage cans will incur a significantly higher per litre initial charge over large format PET bottles.

With the proposed flat rate deposit of 20p per container, a multipack of six 330cl cans will see a purchase price increase of £1.20 (20p x 6). By comparison, the same volume of liquid in a single 2 litre PET bottle would incur an initial price increase of just 20p.

Given the difference in deposit per litre of product being 61p for the 330ml drinks can against just 10p for the 2 litre PET bottle, it’s hard to see how this cannot but distort the market.

The argument that consumers would redeem their money when the pack is returned simply does not hold sway as research indicates that two thirds of consumers would most likely choose the cheaper option, many unable or unwilling to fund the initial extra payment.

This is an ill thought-through approach which will disadvantage a pack that already has a higher recycling rate than comparable materials. The current recycling rate for beverage cans standing at 75% is already in excess of the Scottish Parliament’s first year target of 70% recycling for 2023.

The MPMA does not reject a DRS per se but calls for a variable deposit rate according to container size rather than unit, so that the very real risk of market distortion can be avoided.

The Scottish Parliament still has time to reconsider its regulation before it becomes enshrined in law. The MPMA urges it to think again.”

ROBERT FELL,

Director and CEO,

Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association.