Want to know more about Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)? 👉Hear from our Policy & Research Manager, Jemma Bere:
Delivering a Deposit Return Scheme for Wales…? It’s been talked about for years but a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in the UK is finally starting to take shape and is planned to launch in October 2027. 🎉 I’ve been working in this area for over 10 years (yes, it’s really taken that long!) so here’s a brief explainer of what it is and what the plans are for a DRS in Wales... · A DRS is a system where a small deposit is charged for certain types of drinks containers, such as plastic bottles and cans, at the point of purchase which is refunded when the container is returned. 🪙 · Evidence from the 56 schemes established elsewhere in the world shows that Deposit Return Schemes help to significantly reduce litter – not just of drinks containers but litter overall. 🚮 What’s the deal with Wales? Whilst committing to the same launch date and general ‘interoperability’, the proposal for the DRS scheme in Wales includes two areas of divergence. In Wales: · Glass will be included but without a deposit and; 🍾 · The scheme will also include reuseable containers and targets for reuse 🧋 This is genuinely ambitious and very welcome (by me at least!) but the logistics are not easy - I would argue howver, that it is a challenge we need to rise to. Whilst Wales may be one of the first countries to adopt reuse from the outset at quite such scale, it is not the only scheme which has extended its design to support reuse – Latvia and Denmark being particularly notable exceptions. Current consultation The current Welsh Government consultation (open until 10th November) is seeking views on the reuse element of the DRS in particular as well as gathering ideas as to how to deliver the maximum benefits for communities in Wales. Here’s some key principles that I have included in our response for Keep Wales Tidy 1/ We need to focus on the container, not contents. Exclusions and exceptions cause confusion for both consumers and industry. 2/ Not all reusable containers are equal. Without clarity of guidelines and the strict adherence to the precautionary principle, the increased and repeated exposure to heat and water in the washing process could cause additional problems further down the line. 3/ Political continuity and cross-party commitment is critical to avoid further delays and to ensure that this transformational policy is not held hostage for political or industry gain. (For reference, see Scotland, 2023). https://lnkd.in/eukRpFDT Reloop, Marine Conservation Society, Eunomia Research & Consulting - Certified B Corp., Trash Free Trails, Surfers Against Sewage, Wales Environment Link