The next steps towards introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers to help cut plastic pollution are to be announced by the Environment Secretary.

The Scottish Government announced last September that it will bring in the scheme for bottles and cans.

Under the initiative people pay a small deposit when they buy a drink in a single-use container and get the money back when it is returned empty.

The Scottish Government commissioned Zero Waste Scotland to investigate design options and the associated costs and benefits of how a deposit return scheme could operate last year.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham and Zero Waste Scotland chief executive Iain Gulland will announce the next steps on a visit to Glencairn Primary School, Motherwell, on Wednesday.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Cunningham said: "Scotland was the first part of the UK to commit to a deposit return scheme as we recognise it could be an important way of increasing recycling rates and reducing waste.

"Over the last year we have been working closely with Zero Waste Scotland and representatives from the packaging industry, retailers and environmental groups to better understand the benefits and challenges of operating a deposit return scheme.

"This week marks the next stage in the process as we are determined to do all we can to prevent discarded drinks containers from ending up in our streets and seas."

The Scottish Government has announced a range of measures to clamp down on plastic pollution, including plans to ban plastic-stemmed cotton buds.

MSPs have also approved a ban on plastic microbeads in personal care products, while in May ministers announced that single-use coffee cups are to be banned in Scottish Government buildings in a further effort to reduce plastic pollution.