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Committee calls for cartons to be included in deposit return scheme

24 November 2022

The Chairman of the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP, has written to the Environment Secretary calling for cartons to be included in any future deposit return scheme (DRS). Establishing an ‘all-in’ approach, including carton packages, can boost efforts to reach net zero and create a circular economy without the costly later addition of further packaging in such a DRS.

The EAC’s calls echo those of several stakeholders who provided evidence to the Committee's 2021 inquiry: the Committee heard that carton packages are already included in DRS schemes in other countries, and that the infrastructure to fully recycle cartons is available in the UK.

DEFRA was due to provide a full government response to its consultation, ‘Introduction of a deposit return scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland’ by early 2022. The Committee looks forward to understanding the current status of the Government's initiative at its meeting next week with Environment Minister Rebecca Pow.

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