Comment: Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers

“I welcome this announcement that a deposit return scheme will be implemented in England, though it is disappointing to learn that the scheme will not come in until 2025, given the length of time the Government has spent pondering the issue. I trust the Government will use the time before implementation to establish a robust and workable scheme. In the UK, we discard eight billion drinks containers a year, and recycling rates have plateaued. This new scheme needs to play a significant part in increasing recycling rates.

Our Committee took evidence on plans for the DRS in 2021. The experts we heard from then were in favour of an ‘all-in’ model that would provide the greatest reduction in litter, ensure collection of high-quality material for recycling and avoid market distortion. We heard conflicting views on whether the system should include glass, amid safety and storage concerns, but concluded on balance glass should be included: it has been successfully introduced in schemes in other countries. It is therefore a missed opportunity that glass will not be in England’s DRS at launch, but both Scotland and Wales’ DRS will include glass.

The Committee was strongly in favour of a scheme which would operate as far as possible across all nations of the UK. I urge Ministers to work constructively with the scheme operator established in Scotland to ensure that the schemes in operation in England and in Scotland are as compatible and interoperable as possible.”

Further information

• Inquiry: Next steps for deposit return schemes
• Environmental Audit Committee
• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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