Wales has launched a new consultation for its planned deposit return scheme that is set to include glass, unlike the rest of the UK.
The scheme will be for single-use plastic, can drink containers, and glass bottles from the October 2027 start date. However, there will be no deposit charged on glass bottles to begin with.
Containers between 150ml up to 3 litres in size and made from plastic, glass, aluminium, and steel will be in-scope of the deposit return scheme (DRS).
The consultation also sets out how a ‘reuse roadmap’ will be created to show how Wales will move to reusable drinks containers, in line with the targets set out in the regulatory framework.
The Welsh Government believes that the drinks industry, coordinated by the deposit management organisation (DMO), should create the roadmap.
The consultation runs until 10 November 2025.
Reacting to the consultation, Travis Way, Managing Director of EcoVend by Reconomy, said it is ‘pleasing to see Wales launch its consultation on a DRS that places reuse at its core’.
However, Way explained that the decision to press ahead with bringing single-use glass into the scheme’s scope has raised concerns among soft drinks companies and retailers.
“While the Welsh Government has stressed that there will be a carefully phased approach to avoid disruption by not requiring deposits or changes to labelling, it will be important that this is developed in close collaboration with the other nations to minimise operational challenges for retailers and producers and prevent any unnecessary consumer confusion,” Way said.
Last year, Wales withdrew from developing an aligned DRS across the UK. In a written statement, Welsh Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies explained that Wales could not proceed with a DRS aligned across the UK due to issues caused by the UK Internal Market Act.
Circular Online reported at the time that the Welsh Government withdrew due to time constraints that prevented the UK Government from considering a request for an exclusion from the Act.
The Act was established in 2020 to regulate trade between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland after the UK’s exit from the European Union.
Circular Online learned that the Welsh Government did not request an exclusion to the Act, as the UK Government indicated it would not be able to consider such a request ‘within the time necessary’ for Wales to join the joint process of appointing a Deposit Management Organisation for the four nations’ schemes.