Cautious public support for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme

Polling conducted by Ipsos Scotland between 17th and 21st March finds that:

• Over half of the Scottish public (55%) had heard a great deal or a fair amount about Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).
• Half (49%) supported the scheme, while a third (31%) were opposed.
• Half (51%) said they thought they would always or frequently use the scheme to return empty drinks containers, while 37% said they would use it occasionally at most.

The DRS, which was due to go live on 16th August 2023, has been delayed until March 2024.

Awareness of the DRS

Half of Scots said that, before they took part in the survey, they had heard a great deal (14%) or a fair amount (41%) about Scotland’s deposit return scheme.

Awareness was higher among older people – 67% of those aged 55 or above had heard at least a fair amount about it, compared with 57% of those aged 35-54 and 38% of those aged under 35.

Levels of support for the DRS

On balance, more support plans to introduce Scotland’s DRS than oppose them – 49% support, 31% oppose, while 20% neither support nor oppose or don’t know.

• Women were a little more supportive than men (52% vs 45%)
• People aged under 55 were more supportive than those aged 55+ (53% of 16-34s, 51% of 35-54s, and 44% of those aged 55+)
• There was a clear split in support along party lines – 63% of those who voted SNP in 2021 (constituency vote) supported the DRS, compared with 38% of Labour voters, and 25% of Conservative voters.

Expected use of the DRS

Over half (51%) said they would use the DRS, returning empty containers to a collection point to get their 20p deposit back on included drinks, either frequently (23%) or always (28%). 18% said they would use it occasionally, 12% rarely and 7% never.

• In spite of being supportive of the DRS in principle, younger people were less likely to think they would use it at least frequently – just 41% of 16-34 year-olds, compared with 57% of 35-54 year-olds and 53% of those aged 55+.
• Those on lower incomes were also less likely to say they would use it frequently – 44% of those on incomes under £20,000, compared with 56% of those on £55,000 or more.

Emily Gray, Managing Director, Ipsos in Scotland, commented:

These findings indicate room for improvement in public awareness, perceptions of and engagement with the DRS. While on balance more support the scheme than oppose it, a large minority either don’t like the plans or are not sure about them. Similarly, while it is positive that over half expect to use the scheme, given there is likely to be a ‘say-do’ gap in practice, the Scottish Government will wish to push this figure up further. There may also be a need to understand if there are particular barriers anticipated by young people, who are generally supportive of the scheme but less likely to think they themselves will use it.

Technical Note

• Ipsos interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,023 adults aged 16+ in Scotland.
• The survey took place online between 17th and 21st March 2023.
• Data has been weighted to the known offline population proportions.
• Where results do not sum to 100%, this may be due to computer rounding, multiple responses, or the exclusion of “don’t know” categories.
• All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.