A troubled bottle deposit return scheme (DRS) in Scotland is in danger of collapsing after the British government said it can only be implemented if it excludes glass containers.

The stipulation, if agreed to, would render the scheme substantially less viable.

The UK government recently approved a partial exemption to the Internal Market Act for the deposit scheme, but stipulated glass could not be part of it.

CAMRA has said any DRS must protect choice of good beer and cider.

Commenting on the announcement, Scotland’s environment minister Lorna Slater said Scotland’s DRS won’t go ahead “as currently planned”.

The Scottish Greens co-leader said Westminster’s “11th-hour intervention” to change the parameters of the DRS – which included the removal of glass – had added uncertainty to certain parts of the scheme.

CAMRA’s Scottish director Stuart McMahon said: “This is a chance for the UK and Scottish governments to work together to make sure that we can have a DRS that is easy to understand for consumers and which works seamlessly across borders.

“CAMRA supports the principles of a deposit return scheme, but the Scottish government’s proposals risked a catastrophic reduction in choice for consumers of quality beer and cider from small and independent businesses from across these islands.”

Since the release of this article, it has been announced that the Scottish deposit return scheme will be delayed until October 2025.