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SLTA Hails ‘sensible’ Decision On DRS For Scottish On-trade

SLTA hails ‘sensible’ decision on DRS for Scottish on-trade

SLTA welcomes confirmation that the Scottish on-trade will not be expected to receive returns from outside their own business, or act as a general return point, as part of Scotland’s forthcoming deposit return scheme (DRS).

Pubs, clubs, restaurants and other on-trade outlets will be classed as closed loop hospitality, where the consumer is buying the drink to consume on site. “The business will be able to choose whether to charge the 20p deposit or not,” explains Zero Waste Scotland. “This is because it is expected that the container will not leave the premises.

“Examples of these types of businesses are restaurants and bars. As the consumer has not been charged the 20p deposit, they do not need to be reimbursed. Closed loop hospitality businesses will not be expected to receive returns from outside their own business and will not act as a general return point within the scheme.

“In closed loop hospitality, the business still pays the 20p deposit to the wholesaler or producer they have bought the containers from, and are reimbursed the deposit values on the containers they return to the scheme administrator for recycling.”


To help hospitality businesses better understand DRS, Zero Waste Scotland has published brand new infographics explaining the two different ways they will interact with the scheme.

They have been published to coincide with UK Hospitality’s summer conference, at which ZWS is exhibiting and will be speaking with businesses to help them understand how the scheme works.

Colin Wilkinson, SLTA managing director, said: “This is excellent news for Scotland’s on-trade and we applaud what is a very sensible decision.

“SLTA members of all sizes and in all parts of the country will extremely relieved to hear confirmation that they will not have to act as return points and be expected to receive returns under the DRS scheme.”

Claire Munro, communications lead, deposit return at Zero Waste Scotland, commented: “Scotland’s deposit return scheme will be a game-changer for recycling. As a major sector in Scotland’s economy, hospitality will have a key role in that change. Through their participation in the scheme, hospitality businesses will be helping to increase recycling and reduce harmful emissions.

“We know that hospitality businesses are keen to know more about what Scotland’s deposit return scheme will mean for them. That’s why we’re delighted to be engaging with them, including through our presence at UKHospitality’s summer conference.”

 You can view the infographics, which explain the difference between closed loop and open loop recycling, on Zero Waste Scotland’s deposit return scheme hub here.

About open loop and closed loop hospitality

Open loop hospitality businesses, such as take away cafes or restaurants, act in the same way as any other retail point of sale in Scotland’s deposit return scheme. When a consumer buys a sealed drink to take away, businesses will charge the 20p deposit to the consumer, as the container is likely leaving their premise. The consumer then receives the 20p deposit back once they return the empty container to a return location, whether that’s the location they bought the container from, or another return location.

Under closed loop hospitality, where the consumer is buying the drink to consume on site, the business will be able to choose whether to charge the 20p deposit or not. This is because it is expected that the container will not leave the premises. Examples of these types of businesses are restaurants and bars. As the consumer has not been charged the 20p deposit, they do not need to be reimbursed. Closed loop hospitality businesses will not be expected to receive returns from outside their own business and will not act as a general return point within the scheme. In closed loop hospitality, the business still pays the 20p deposit to the wholesaler or producer they have bought the containers from, and are reimbursed the deposit values on the containers they return to the scheme administrator for recycling.

Find all the latest information on Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme at depositreturn.scot

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