Orkney residents have begun trialing a bottle deposit scheme head of the nationwide launch of DRS in 2023.
Islanders are being invited to place any single-use drinks containers into reverse vending machines for recycling as part of the Return and Recycle Orkney initiative, which will then generate a 5p donation to charity for every bottle or can returned.
The trial will not require consumers to pay a deposit on drinks containers, but it is hoped it will provide insight into how the initiative can be rolled out to rural and island communities.
The scheme, which is being delivered by Zero Waste Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government, will run until August next year.
Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater said: “This is a fantastic project that will make it easy for people in Orkney to recycle their empty drinks bottles and cans.
“Better recycling facilities will help keep litter off our streets and green spaces, while reducing the needless waste and emissions that are driving the climate crisis.
“I look forward to seeing these benefits experienced in communities all across the country next year when Scotland’s deposit return scheme goes live.”
Jill Farrell, Director of Evidence and Insights at Zero Waste Scotland, added: “Initiatives like this have real potential to transform our behaviour towards single-use materials, which is a must if we’re serious about tackling the climate emergency.
“It is fantastic to see Return and Recycle Orkney go live. It is a significant milestone and I look forward to the valuable insights it will provide.”
