The government has outlined its plans for a Deposit Return Scheme for England, Northern Ireland and Wales, setting a commencement date of 1 October 2025.
Following a consultation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), it has been proposed that the regulations to introduce DRS will come into force by the end of 2023 and commence by 1 October 2025.
DEFRA confirmed that the materials captured in the DRS in England and Northern Ireland will be drinks containers made from polyethylene terephthalate plastic, steel, and aluminium. Although there was some demand for glass to be included, glass bottles will not be captured by DRS in England and Northern Ireland as the respective governments believe the addition of the material will add “additional complexity and challenges to delivery of DRS”, in particular for the hospitality and retail sectors, as well as additional consumer inconvenience.
In the Welsh scheme, glass is also included. In all three countries, the DRS scheme will include containers ranging in size from 50ml to 3 litres.
Another step in the process will be for the government to appoint a Deposit Management Organisation. It has set out a deadline of summer 2024 for this. It has set a 90% collection target in the regulations, to be achieved within three years of the first reporting year of the scheme, and every year after.
Positive reaction from retail industry
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) welcomed the government’s plans to guarantee the strategic placement of return points in its proposed deposit return scheme for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “It is essential that the scheme is inter-operable across the UK, and we must learn the lessons from the introduction of the Scottish DRS to ensure that the scheme in England, Wales and NI is both effective and sustainable. The government’s timeline of 2025 is ambitious given the planned appointment of a Deposit Management Organisation in 2024, but we are committed to working with the government, retailers and suppliers to introduce a scheme that works for everyone.”
The Fed’s National President Jason Birks also welcomed the announcement. “We are happy to see the outcome of the consultation has favoured DRS,” he said. “As a federation that has always been supportive of DRS, we are looking forward to engaging with the scheme operators to ensure a successful outcome for our members, many of whose stores will be actively involved.
“It is important that independent retailers are included in discussions, as they are vital return point operators. The Fed will continue to monitor DRS as it progresses and will update its members accordingly.”
Not everyone was in favour of the government’s plan.
In response to the announcement, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) stated: “Whilst we support the concept in principal, we are still of the opinion that the scheme should wait until both national packaging EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) and Consistent Collections in England have been fully implemented. In pressing ahead, we are at risk of introducing a scheme that could be very costly and might not have been needed if the desired outcomes from the other initiatives are realised. While CIWM can see the merits of excluding glass from a DRS, the fact this has not been applied across all nations means that there will be inconsistencies introduced at a time when we are trying to do just the opposite.
“CIWM is dismayed with the proposed method of payment to local authorities for DRS material that ends up in their management, especially given that the overwhelming response back to government was that redeeming deposits was not workable. We would also urge government to resolve the issue of VAT on the deposit as a matter of urgency, so that all involved have a clear way forward in terms of the finances of the scheme.”
Reuse and recycling digital platform re-universe also criticised the model. Chairman, Tony McGurk said: “Today’s government announcement on DRS is a missed opportunity for a Deposit Return Scheme that is fit for the 21st century.
“re-universe welcomes the introduction of a much-needed Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) across the UK, yet the government’s recent decision to opt for a traditional Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) system is utterly out of touch with the needs of the public, industry, environment, and the government’s own ambition to drive UK innovation.
“The real DRS opportunity lies with a Digital DRS, which would use unique coding to track and trace every individual drinks container included in the scheme, bringing six key benefits above that of an RVM model: consumer convenience and inclusivity; traceability and transparency; lower cost; flexibility; reduced carbon footprint; and future proofing.
“From a digital point of view the one shining light is the forward thinking of the Welsh government, and we should not be surprised that the nation with the best record for waste collection is keen to continue to investigate the digital option.”
In its announcement, the government addressed a digital method, stating it had received concerns over the adoption of a digital model particularly regarding the risk of increased levels of fraud and the reduced control over the quality of returned recyclate into the scheme.
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