Inverness hotelier criticises Scottish Government recycling scheme
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The chairman of the Highland Hotels Association has added his voice to more than 500 others calling for a rethink of the deposit return scheme.
Emmanuel Moine, who is also manager of Inverness’s Glen Mhor Hotel, slammed the plans as obscure and unfair, saying the hospitality sector is “on its knees, but they keep pushing.”
Under the scheme, due to come into force next year, anyone buying drink in glass, metal or plastic containers would pay a 20p deposit, to be refunded if they return the container for recycling. Otherwise the producer pays.
Among the signatories of a nationwide open letter opposing the scheme are GlenWyvis Distillery, Cromarty Brewing and Dornoch Distillery.
Sent to circular economy minister Lorna Slater the letter states: “The small number of industry bodies who know of the scheme have openly expressed their grave concerns about the serious detrimental consequences it will have on tens of thousands of businesses. Chief among these is the drinks and hospitality sector, as well as local councils and retailers. Not to mention the obvious damaging impact on consumer spending choice.”
Mr Moine said: “While we are all very sensitive to sustainability, we estimate about 20 per cent of hotels and restaurants to close this winter. Everybody is trying to survive due to inflation, staff shortages, rising heating costs, rising staff costs, rising interest rates, delivery issues. And they are adding more problems, more challenges. Nobody knows how it is going to work, nobody knows if it is going to work and be useful. The trade is on its knees, but they keep pushing.”
Holyrood’s Cross-Party Group on Beer and Pubs also criticised the scheme, saying the chances of it successfully going live on time are “vanishingly thin”.
