A Scottish Government minister has accused Westminster of "blocking us at every turn" in a row over a controversial recycling initiative.
Lorna Slater blasted the UK Government today after it made a late intervention over the future of the deposit return scheme (DRS), which is due to be introduced in Scotland next year.
And she failed to guarantee the policy would now go-ahead after Tory ministers announced on Friday evening that glass drinks containers be excluded.
Slater said: "For the UK Government, at the last minute, to interfere with democracy in Scotland, and interfere with our ability to protect our environment, after hundreds of millions of pounds have been in invested in a scheme that includes glass, is absolutely outrageous."
Holyrood passed legislation in 2020 for all single-use drinks bottles and cans to be charged a 20p deposit in a bid to massively increase recycling rates.
But the DRS faced stiff opposition from small businesses which warned it would massively increase costs for both firms and customers at a time of already soaring inflation.
With similar schemes in the rest of the UK not due to come into effect until 2025, Scottish ministers had been forced to seek an exemption from the UK Internal Market Act, amid concerns trade between the four nations could be impacted.
But as glass bottles are not included in the plans for England and Northern Ireland, UK ministers argued having glass in the Scottish scheme could create a “permanent divergence” in the market.
Slater argued the stance taken by Westminster was part of a wider move to undermine devolution.
She told BBC: "The whole point of devolution is so we can do things differently in Scotland.
"So we can do things like free bus travel for people under 22, so we can have free prescriptions. The whole point of devolution is we can adapt things and do them differently and make them better.
"We should absolutely be using the powers of devolution to prevent waste and litter and tackle environmental issues."
The Green MSP added: "Westminster is starting to block us at every turn - on equalities issues, on environmental issues, this is a disastrous way forward which is disrespectful to Scotland."
A UK government spokesperson said: "The Government remains unwavering in its commitment to improving the environment, while also upholding the UK’s internal market.
"The drinks industry has raised concerns about the Scottish Government’s Deposit Return Scheme differing from plans in the rest of the UK, resulting in the Scottish Government reviewing and pausing their Scheme earlier this year.
"We have listened to these concerns and that is why we have accepted the Scottish Government’s request for a UK Internal Market exclusion on a temporary and limited basis to ensure the Scottish Government’s scheme aligns with planned schemes for the rest of the UK.
"Deposit return schemes need to be consistent across the UK and this is the best way to provide a simple and effective system.
"A system with the same rules for the whole UK will increase recycling collection rates and reduce litter - as well as minimise disruption to the drinks industry and ensure simplicity for consumers."
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