A local authority has given its backing to calls to introduce a deposit return scheme for drinks cans and bottles.
Aberdeenshire Council is thought to be the first council in Scotland to formally support the idea.
It comes after members unanimously backed a motion from Paul Johnston, co-leader of the Democratic Independent and Green group on the authority.
The council is now urging Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead to involve local authorities in designing a deposit and return system which would work alongside council waste and recycling services.
Mr Johnston said: "Many people have fond memories of bottle deposits and we know that a modern deposit return system could work here just as well as it does in so many places around the world.
"The international evidence is mounting that this is a win-win situation, an opportunity to save substantial sums of money and protect the environment at the same time.
"Better use of resources means we can reduce waste and litter, boost employment in the circular economy and contribute to tackling climate change.
"Aberdeenshire Council's leaders will now be writing to the Scottish Government to support the introduction of deposit return for Scotland."
The Scottish Government has the power to introduce such an initiative under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act of 2009 and polling from the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) has showed almost eight out of 10 people backed the move.
Under such a system, shoppers pay a deposit when buying products in cans and plastic or glass bottles, with the money refunded when they return the empty containers.
APRS director John Mayhew said: "It's great to add Aberdeenshire Council to our list of supporters for a Scottish deposit return system, a list which now includes recycling businesses and small retailers as well as charities with hundreds of thousands of members between them.
"We know deposit return works exceptionally well elsewhere, helping to reduce litter and carbon emissions. Without this change, it will be almost impossible to meet Scotland's recycling targets."
Jane Bickerstaffe, spokeswoman for the Packaging Recycling Group Scotland (PRGS), said: "The reality is that a deposit scheme would be costly and inconvenient for consumers, and result in a substantial loss of income from local authorities' own kerbside recycling services.
"Diverting some materials away from kerbside recycling would also increase carbon emissions by increasing the number of vehicles on the road.
"A far better solution would be to accept the PRGS offer to support the recycling charter.
"Local authorities' kerbside collections have achieved good rates of recycling, covering all materials, not just drinks containers, and the recycling charter is the way to work together to achieve even more."
Mr Lochhead said: "Like carrier-bag charging, deposit return schemes attach a value to items that can otherwise be viewed as waste and have proven successful in other countries at reducing litter and increasing recycling.
"I put this issue on the agenda because we have to ask ourselves if this can work in other countries and make a big difference, then can it work in Scotland.
"I have asked Zero Waste Scotland to undertake further work to look into the issues raised in our call for evidence on the potential for a deposit return scheme for Scotland.
"We welcome Aberdeenshire Council's contribution to the debate and look forward to hearing more about its proposals."
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