Biffa Waste Services Given Go Ahead For Court Case Against Scottish Government For Failed Bottle Return Scheme

29th January 2025

A judge has ruled that a £166m legal claim against the Scottish government over the failed deposit return scheme can go ahead.

Ministers effectively dropped plans for a Scotland-specific bottle return initiative in June 2023 following a dispute with the UK government.

Biffa Waste Services, which had been hired to collect recycled containers, argued in the Court of Session that ministers assured it the scheme would go ahead - and lost out when it was cancelled.

Ministers denied the firm's arguments and said the case should be thrown out of court.

Biffa, which is seeking up to £166.2m in reparations, says the government breached a duty of care and was negligent when it claimed the scheme was viable.

Read the full story at BBC