Biffa sues Scotland over failed recycling scheme, citing broken promises and £166M in losses.

Biffa Waste Services is suing the Scottish Government for £166 million over the collapse of Scotland’s deposit return scheme, claiming it relied on a 2022 assurance from former minister Lorna Slater that the scheme would proceed, leading to a £51.4 million investment. The project stalled in 2023 after the UK government blocked glass bottles via the Internal Market Act, causing Circularity Scotland to go into administration with £86 million in debt. Biffa argues it was not informed of the UK’s regulatory stance and that the government failed to disclose risks, while the government maintains Biffa assumed commercial risk. The case, ongoing in the Court of Session, includes testimony from Slater and former UK Secretary Alister Jack, with the scheme now expected to launch no earlier than October 2027.