British Glass has called for Wales’s Deposit Return Scheme to be paused, warning the inclusion of glass in the policy could create ‘substantial cost burdens’.
The UK trade association for the glass industry, British Glass, has asked for ‘urgent clarification’ from the Welsh Government on a series of key issues surrounding the inclusion of glass in its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).
British Glass says the regulations ‘leave key questions unanswered’ about producer fees for glass beverage containers during the 0p deposit transition period.
Wales’s DRS will include glass when it launches in October 2027, unlike the other UK nations’ schemes. However, there will be a four-year transition period where no deposit is charged on glass containers to manage interoperability with the other UK schemes. During this time, glass containers will also be exempt from labelling requirements.
British Glass warns the 0p transition period risks producers paying fees twice if DRS and kerbside systems are not aligned, and could create ‘substantial cost burdens’.
The Welsh Deposit Management Organisation (DMO), the company in charge of operating Wales’s DRS, is responsible for setting the fees registered producers must pay to fund the management of the scheme.
At the same time, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which began in October 2025, charges packaging producers and importers mandatory fees to fund the full cost of managing household packaging waste.
According to an Explanatory Memorandum published by the Welsh Government this year, glass containers will only remain in-scope of EPR until the DRS is operational in Wales.
This means that products will only be obligated under either the DRS or EPR for packaging, but not both.
British Glass Federation Director, Dr Nick Kirk, commented: “We fully support Wales’s ambition to improve recycling and reuse. But differing from the rest of the UK on glass without clear obligations or full consultation risks higher costs, reduced consumer choice and disruption to successful recycling systems.”
“Stakeholders were never directly asked whether Wales should diverge from the rest of the UK by including glass, especially after the UK-wide approach was withdrawn in November 2024.”
“A short, constructive pause would ensure the scheme is robust and fair, while delivering the environmental benefits Wales is aiming for.”
The collection targets for Wales’s DRS, as well as the schemes in the other UK nations, are 70% in year one, 80% in year two, and 90% in year three. However, the targets won’t apply to glass containers during the 0p transition period.
