Nestled at the head of Loch Long in Argyll, a picturesque Scottish landscape harbours one of the nation’s most pressing environmental concerns—plastic pollution.

Loch Long has become a collection point for significant amounts of litter, a phenomenon known as the Arrochar litter sink. A combination of prevailing winds and oceanic currents funnels waste into the loch, making it a final resting place for thousands of discarded items.

An estimated 62,000 pieces of litter wash ashore in Arrochar annually, much of it originating from the waterways surrounding Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. Studies suggest that approximately 11% of the waste entering the River Clyde and its tributaries eventually ends up in Arrochar, making it one of Scotland’s most affected areas.

The situation has overwhelmed local efforts to clean up the mess. Volunteers work tirelessly to remove the litter, but it accumulates faster than they can clear it.

The waste is often entangled in seaweed, which was once an asset to the community. Previously, seaweed was harvested in large quantities to fertilise farmland, but pollution has rendered this practice unsafe.

Environmental campaigners argue that the only effective solution is to prevent waste from entering the waterways in the first place. One of the key measures they advocate for is the introduction of a deposit return scheme for bottles and cans. This initiative, they believe, could significantly reduce the amount of plastic and aluminium waste polluting Scotland’s marine environment.

A Scottish deposit return scheme was initially scheduled to launch in 2023 but faced delays due to opposition from businesses over the inclusion of glass. Further complications arose when the UK government sought to establish a unified deposit return scheme across all four nations.

UK ministers eventually agreed to grant Scotland an exemption, but only on the condition that glass be excluded from the program. This decision sparked intense debate and led to another postponement, with Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater announcing that the scheme would be delayed until at least October 2025. Later, the timeline was pushed back again to 2027 to align with the UK-wide initiative.

Meanwhile, the Welsh government has decided to opt out of the UK-wide scheme, choosing instead to implement its own deposit return system that will include glass recycling. In contrast, the Republic of Ireland successfully launched its deposit return scheme in 2023, collecting nearly a billion items within its first year.

The political delays and disputes surrounding Scotland’s deposit return scheme have frustrated many environmentalists and local communities who simply want cleaner coastlines.

Kirsty Crawford from the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has emphasised the importance of ensuring that the 2027 target is not postponed further.

She said: “With each fresh high tide you’re going to get more litter washing in.

“It is a big task at hand but this is where we hope the deposit return scheme would help see a reduction in that problem.”

She highlights that Ireland’s scheme has already proven effective in reducing litter, demonstrating the potential impact such a system could have in Scotland.

Ireland’s deposit return scheme requires consumers to pay a 15-cent deposit on every standard-sized plastic bottle or can they purchase, which is refunded upon return. Although glass is not included, the initiative has received widespread support.

While some retailers initially resisted the changes, others have reported increased foot traffic as customers return bottles and cans for refunds. Businesses have the option of installing reverse vending machines—costing around €15,000 (£12,500)—or collecting returned items manually over the counter.

Environmental groups such as Coastwatch Europe, which monitors over 500 shorelines in Ireland, have observed a noticeable decline in litter since the scheme’s implementation. A study conducted in 2017 recorded an average of 60 discarded bottles per kilometre of beach, whereas a recent survey in September and October 2023 found that number had dropped to just eight per kilometre.

Co-founder Karin Dubsky attributes this progress not only to the deposit return scheme but also to a growing awareness of plastic pollution’s environmental impact.

”There is so much positivity and I think it has opened the gates to a different kind of thinking,” she said.

Beyond reducing litter, politicians hope Scotland’s deposit return scheme will improve the country’s stagnant household recycling rates. In 2023, Scotland’s recycling rate stood at 43.5%, a marginal increase from 42.9% in 2014.

The Scottish government anticipates that once implemented, the scheme will cut littering by a third and increase recycling of single-use drinks containers to 90%.

Lorna Slater, who played a key role in introducing the deposit return scheme, remains optimistic that glass may still be incorporated in the future. However, she stresses that preventing further delays is the top priority.

Environmental organisations such as the MCS and Keep Scotland Beautiful share this sentiment, urging the government to adhere to the 2027 deadline.

Last month, applications closed for companies interested in operating the scheme across Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland.

Scottish ministers have reaffirmed their commitment to launching the initiative by 2027, signalling hope that a long-awaited solution to Scotland’s plastic pollution problem may finally be on the horizon.