BOTTLE CRASH COULD COST FIRMS £300M

But Slater blames Westminster for costly U-turn

- DAN VEVERS

LORNA Slater has insisted she can still be trusted to deliver for Scots despite overseeing the SNP-Green government's bungled Deposit Return Scheme.

The Circular Economy Minister admitted the disaster had cost taxpayers nearly £10million while for firms that invested to prepare for the policy the bill could be as high as £300million.

T It comes after revelations th that waste company Biffa is considering suing Scottish ministers for £200million in damages.

Slater refused to be drawn on if DISA Bottle she would resign should a lawsuit be successful.

And the Greens MSP put the blame squarely on Tory ministers for effectively killing the controversial Scotland-only initiative last August.

Speaking before the Scottish Greens conference today, party co-leader Slater said the country would have had a "working DRS paying Scots 20p for bottles and cans by now if not for Westminster.