First Minister Humza Yousaf is considering pausing the introduction of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).
In the campaign to be SNP leader, he pledged to exempt small firms from the scheme for its first year if he was chosen to succeed Nicola Sturgeon.
With ministers at Holyrood continuing to come under pressure over the scheme, which is due to come in on 16 August, a spokesman said a pause is now being looked at.
A spokesman for Yousaf told journalists on Thursday: “It’s one of the things he’s considering early on, now that he’s in post.”
He added it is a “discussion to be had” about DRS.
The two other candidates who ran against Yousaf in the SNP leadership contest, Ash Regan and Kate Forbes, both backed pausing the introduction of the scheme.
Meanwhile, bosses in Scotland’s hospitality sector said delaying the introduction of DRS could help reset the relationship between ministers and business.
UKHospitality Scotland executive director Leon Thompson described the “looming introduction” of the scheme as one of the “enormous challenges” facing the sector.
DRS will see consumers charged a 20p deposit every time they buy a drink in a can or bottle, with that money refunded to them when they return the empty container for recycling.
Thompson said: “It’s positive that the First Minister committed during his campaign that he would provide an initial exemption from DRS for small businesses, but I would urge him to go further and pause the scheme completely, in order to conduct a full review.
“There is a real need for the First Minister to reset and repair the Scottish Government’s relationship with business, which has been incredibly fractious over the past few years, and pausing DRS would be a significant sign that he recognises that.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scotland’s deposit return scheme will be a major part of our efforts to reduce litter, cut emissions and build a greener, more circular economy.
“We are committed to this important scheme and continue to work to identify further feasible, fair and legal options to support small producers, such as a grace period.”
Meanwhile, the Scottish Parliament has had to register as a producer under the DRS, due to the branded whisky it sells in its shop.
The corporate body which governs the Parliament said it is still considering the implications of the DRS, including whether reverse vending machines will be required.
MSP Claire Baker, a member of the cross-party Scottish Parliament Corporate Body, answered questions from other MSPs about the impact of the scheme on Holyrood.
“As part of these preparations, the Scottish Parliament has registered as a producer with Circularity Scotland as we sell Scottish Parliament branded whisky in the shop,” she said.
Asked about the procedures for collecting waste, Baker continued: “The Scottish Parliament is striving to comply with the regulations and we do recognise that all businesses and organisations do need essential clarity around these issues.”
Conservative MSP Brian Whittle asked how visitors to the Parliament would be able to return items to the cafe as they cannot re-enter with empty glass bottles.
Baker said Parliament is considering the need for reverse vending machines.
“It is likely these will be used initially for Parliament staff and we are still considering how we comply with the regulations.”
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