IS the Deposit Return Scheme a hunk of junk, or a potentially great policy? Here’s the problem: given Scotland’s political culture it’s impossible to know. 

We’ve surrendered debate, given up trying to make sense of information and policy. Instead, we hunker down into constitutional bunkers and lob grenades. Every SNP policy is spawned in hell if you’re unionist; every unionist idea is a devilish plot to do down Scotland if you’re nationalist.

This political culture isn’t just wearying. It’s positively detrimental.

One matter is clear, though, when it comes to DRS. It is being used as a proxy war by the Conservative government to undermine devolution. The Tories’ latest attempt to derail the DRS scheme centres on the inclusion of glass. It just doesn’t stack up.

READ MORE: Neil Mackay: Wealth of Scotland's five richest families equals public sector pay bill

A scheme with glass was part of the manifesto supported by all the major Conservative figures with skin in this particular game: Scottish secretary Alister Jack, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, and Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. What’s changed? Did they suddenly remember there’s an ‘internal market’?

No matter what your side of the political aisle, the one issue surely everyone can agree on, is that in the era of climate change, Scotland - and the rest of Britain - needs better recycling measures. But it seems we would rather trash sense in the interests of partisan constitutional battles.

The SNP cannot get off the hook entirely here...

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