After it emerged last week that Circularity Scotland Ltd (CSL), which is industry led and funded, was “on the brink” (see letsrecycle.com story), it was reported that the body was asking producers so continue funding it so it can bring its “expertise to the table”.
However in a joint statement, the British Beer & Pub Association, the British Soft Drinks Association, and the Scottish Retail Consortium have all said they will be pulling funding.
The three bodies make up a significant percentage of Circularity Scotland funders, including the likes of Coca-Cola.
The joint statement explained that their members had collectively invested “substantial time and tens of millions of pounds” in establishing a scheme administrator in Scotland, aligning with the original deadline set by the Scottish Government. However, the current situation has disrupted plans and timings, “jeopardising CSL’s future”.
The associations said: “Sadly, a high degree of political uncertainty has now disrupted plans and timings, putting the future of CSL at risk. Given this ongoing political uncertainty we do not have the confidence required to provide further voluntary funding for the company. It is now a matter for the CSL Board to determine how it wishes to administer the company’s affairs.”
Investment
The associations explained that their investments were made to “address the unique implementation challenges associated with the Scottish DRS.”
However, the go-live date for the scheme was changed less than six months before it was initially scheduled to begin in August 2023, and it has been postponed once again to at least October 2025, in line with the rest of the UK.
The industry associations proclaimed their “continued dedication” to collaborate with the UK and devolved governments, to ensure the delivery of a DRS that effectively caters to the needs of UK consumers, businesses, and the environment.
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