FURTHER delays to the Scottish Government’s flagship deposit return scheme could leave its environmental reputation in tatters ahead of Glasgow hosting the COP26 climate summit, campaigners have warned.

Scottish ministers had committed to roll out the policy, which would mean people will pay a 20 pence deposit when they buy a drink in a single-use container and then be given the deposit back when they return the empty bottle or can, from July 2022.

But speculation is mounting that Greens Circular Economy Minister, Lorna Slater, may be about to push the start date of the policy back further, potentially until March 2023.

Activists have warned that an eight-month delay could result in an additional 28 million cans and bottles being dumped as litter unnecessarily.

Last month, Ms Slater, one of two Scottish Green MSPs in Nicola Sturgeon’s government, was unable to confirm whether the scheme will begin next July as promised.

Last week, Ms Slater came under fire from political opponents and environmental campaigners for not issuing a moratorium on new waste incinerators, despite issuing a review into their role.

READ MORE: Greens minister Lorna Slater unable to say if deposit return scheme will start on time

Ms Slater said a review would report back evidence next year before a decision is taken on whether to halt the process, despite being a Greens manifesto promise to end burning of waste.

The Greens co-leader is now facing more pressure to ensure that the Scottish Government doesn’t delay another key environmental policy despite being in the global spotlight.

In the run-up to COP26 next month, activists have insisted that delivering deposit return on time “really is a make or break for the new government’s environmental reputation”.

Research for the Have You Got the Bottle? campaign estimated the Scottish system could reduce littering by as much as by 50,000 plastic bottles, 60,000 drinks cans, and 7,000 glass bottles every day – warning 28 million cans and bottles could pile up as litter if the scheme is put back until March 2023.

It has now been more than four years since the First Minister confirmed that a deposit return scheme would be introduced in Scotland – with the country the first part of the UK to commit to this action.

The deposit return scheme rollout has already been pushed back because of the pandemic.

Kim Pratt, circular economy campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “Scotland’s deposit return system is an important opportunity to change the way materials are used and to reduce our climate emissions. It will also change the way people think about waste.

READ MORE: 'Dereliction of duty': Greens accused of shunning Scottish Land and Estates conference

“The scheme has already suffered a major delay, and any further delay will inevitably draw comparisons to the fiascos of the Scottish Parliament building and Edinburgh trams.”

Will Mackenzie, of Greenpeace, added: "It’s not an exaggeration to say that delivering deposit return on time in July 2022 really is a make or break for the new government’s environmental reputation.”

Catherine Gemmell, of the Marine Conservation Society in Scotland, said: “A deposit return system remains the simplest possible measure to help achieve a circular economy. If this can’t be delivered on time, after four years, what hope do we have for more ambitious measures in the future?

“Our volunteers have been cleaning up Scotland’s coasts and recording litter data throughout September. One group found 75 drinks containers in just 10 metres of beach, a stark reminder of the environmental cost of further delays to a deposit return system.”

Addressing MSPs last month, Ms Slater warned MSPs that the pandemic and Brexit “have had a significant impact on the businesses that would make the scheme a success”.

READ MORE: Scottish Greens under fire for waste incineration u-turn 'embarrassment'

The Lothians MSP was unable to give a straight answer to a yes or no question by Tory MSP Maurice Golden as to whether the scheme will be rolled t in July next year as promised.

But Ms Slater did insist that the Scottish Government is still “fully committed” to rolling out the flagship policy, despite the challenges faced in implementing it.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We remain fully committed to implementing Scotland’s deposit return scheme, which will be a UK first. It will increase recycling and cut littering, and help to meet Scotland’s world leading climate targets.

“Scotland’s scheme will be among the most environmentally ambitious and accessible in Europe, including tens of thousands of return points for plastic, metal and glass containers, as well as pick-ups for online deliveries.

“We will provide an update to parliament and businesses shortly.”