Industry bodies, including the Fed and the British Retail Consortium (BRC), have expressed disappointment with Wales’ decision to push on with its own Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).
The Welsh government announced on 18 November that it will create its own DRS, which means a UK-wide DRS will not be delivered.
In a written statement published on 18 November, deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies said a UK-wide scheme has been abandoned due to being unable to address issues inherited by the UK government from the previous administration.
The British Retail Consortium, The Food and Drink Federation and The Industry Council for Packaging and Environment have joined the ACS to issue a statement on the matter, labelling it as “extremely disappointing”.
“The decision today by the Welsh government to step away from the four-nation approach to the DRS is extremely disappointing,” the statement said.
“With industry preparing to invest billions in a UK wide DRS system, on top of new costs arising from the Chancellor’s budget, it is essential that any approach to DRS is aligned across all four nations and delivers improved recycling rates and a reduction in litter across the UK.”
The statement continued that the announcement will “increase uncertainty for the scheme” and “cause confusion among consumers” who may struggle by varying approaches across borders.
“Industry will need time to understand the full implications and will need to see the full detail of Welsh government’s approach. However, it seems highly likely this announcement and the uncertainty it brings will make the already very challenging 2027 implementation deadline even harder to deliver for England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.”
Mo Razzaq, president of the Fed, said: “While we applaud Wales’s desire to make its deposit return scheme a success, we would prefer to see one single scheme for the UK. Interoperability across the UK is vital, so that anyone buying a drinks can in England will have the confidence that they can return it in Wales. A single UK-wide scheme would be far more successful, efficient and effective, enabling shoppers to understand and embrace DRS as quickly as possible.”
One difference between the Welsh scheme and the UK iteration will be the approach to recycling glass, as Wales has maintained that glass would be part of its DRS, yet earlier this month the UK government confirmed that it would not include glass in the scheme.
Razzaq continued: “The Fed has always been very supportive of a UK-wide DRS as we believe it has huge potential to boost recycling and curb litter – two issues that impact on the environment and people’s quality of life.”
Vince Malone, of Tenby Stores & Post Office, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, added: “This is a concerning development, as Fed members believe a Welsh DRS scheme can only work effectively if it has a UK scale and is aligned with the rest of the country.”
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