Deposit returns to be a reality for Scotland

Plans for a new deposit return system to help boost recycling and tackle ocean plastics and other litter were confirmed in a speech by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon this week.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has welcomed this news, having for many decades demonstrated the problem of plastics and other materials in our seas, and calling for deposit return systems to help reduce them.

Calum Duncan, Head of Conservation Scotland for the Marine Conservation Society says:

“We welcome the 2017-18 Programme for Government set out by the First Minister, which includes important commitments with real potential to help clean up our seas and beaches. As founding partners of the Have You Got The Bottle campaign, we are particularly delighted with the commitment to introduce a deposit return system for drinks containers, and also the finances promised to help coastal communities tackle the blight of coastal litter. I would like to thank all of our dedicated beach-clean volunteers who have gathered the evidence over many years to help us reach this exciting point.”

“As custodian of vast swathes of Europe’s deepwater environment, we also applaud the vision to evaluate a national deep sea marine reserve for Scotland and, for our pressurised inshore seas, to improve protection for priority marine features across their range. As we are just beginning to learn about the value of coastal and seabed habitats for locking up carbon, we welcome the proposed research programme for blue carbon. We also look forward to helping ensure a network of Marine Protected Areas is complete and well-managed, and to constructive engagement to ensure an ecosystem-based management footing for important industries such as aquaculture and fisheries so they are future-proofed.”

“These will build on the strides taken by the Scottish Government in marine conservation in recent years.”

Find out more about the work of the Marine Conservation Society at www.mcsuk.org.