Recycling pod gets go-ahead – Highland Council grants Lidl in Inverness planning permission for the "reverse vending machines" to allow the supermarket to comply with the forthcoming new deposit and return scheme approved by the Scottish Parliament last May
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An Inverness supermarket is set to extend its store to comply with a new Scottish scheme for the return of recyclable materials.
The Lidl branch in Telford Street had applied to Highland Council for planning permission to make the alterations to its car park, where the new facility will be located.
Planning officers have now granted the application using delegated powers.
They agreed the proposals were in accord with the provisions of the local development plan and that there were no material considerations which would warrant refusal of the request.
According to the original application form the “pod” for bottle returns will cover an area of 55sq m and the current number of parking spaces at the supermarket will be reduced by six, from 120 to 114.
The “reverse vending machines” will comply with the requirements of the forthcoming new deposit and return scheme approved by the Scottish Parliament last May.
From July 1 next year all drinks sold in single-use packaging will require the payment of a 20p deposit by consumers at the point of purchase.
However, this money will be refunded if the customer takes it back to a return point such as that planned by Lidl, for recycling.
The aim of this scheme, it has been claimed, is to help improve the quality and quantity of recycling, reducing litter and assisting in achieving the country’s climate change targets by making it easier for everyone to recycle their used bottles and cans.
It aims to further incentivise recycling particularly of drinks containers made of PET plastic, metal and glass.
As part of its application Lidl stated: “This provides for the return of single-use packaging for drinks to enable Lidl Great Britain Ltd to meet their obligations under the Scottish deposit and return scheme, thereby supporting increased recycling of packaging materials.”
