Government update on the Deposit Return Scheme
The UK Government has agreed to make a UK Internal Market Act exclusion for Welsh Government to include single-use glass bottles in Wales as part of their Deposit Return Scheme. A full statement on the exclusion agreement from UK Government can be found here.
This exclusion is subject to the Welsh Government committing to all of these points:
- commencing its DRS for plastic and metal drinks containers as planned on 1 October 2027,
- ensuring that its DRS for plastic and metal drinks containers meets key criteria for integrating with a UK-wide scheme (this includes ensuring that schemes have a single registration and reporting system, processes for reciprocal takeback of material; for example, material can be returned in any nation, consistent logos, and the same deposit level),
- extending its proposed transitional period for single-use glass (where a 0p deposit applies and no labelling requirements or targets apply) to October 2031 – this will provide industry with additional lead-in time to prepare for the introduction of glass in the Welsh DRS.
The UK Government has also agreed to establishing a joint taskforce to oversee the smooth implementation of interoperable schemes across the UK, including representation from all four governments and relevant Deposit Management Organisations.
There remains a gap on reuse, and the UK Government has stated that it is committed to transitioning to a circular economy where reusable and refillable packaging systems are the norm, but it has pushed back on the agreeing a UKIM Act exclusion for this part of the Welsh proposal.
Alex Hilton, Director of Policy & Public Affairs at Beyondly, said: "Beyondly welcome the clarity this decision by the UK Government has given the industry, which has been a long time coming, but the devil remains in the detail of including glass with a 0p deposit and the potential fraud risk that this could create alongside the additional costs and lack of visibility of the environmental benefit.
We hope this paves the way for Wales to appoint a scheme administrator quickly to work closely with Exchange for Change, the UK DMO, ensure alignment, and provide further certainty for business."
