MINISTERS in Wales have today been urged to protect their plans for a deposit return scheme by leading environmental campaigners.
The calls come after a further delay to the UK’s deposit return scheme (DRS) was announced by DEFRA ministers last month. It will now be implemented in October 2027 at the earliest.
At an event in Cardiff Bay, led by environmental campaign group Nature 2030, a panel of experts raised concerns over UK Government interference in devolved environmental policy.
Labour MS Vikki Howells was joined by environmental campaigners, City to Sea and Keep Wales Tidy, and global sustainable aluminium packaging company, Ball Corporation.
Campaigners say any future Labour government in Westminster should commit to introducing a DRS that includes plastic, glass and aluminium as soon as possible.
DEFRA ministers sparked outrage last year when it revealed glass bottles would be excluded from the scheme in England and Northern Ireland.
UK ministers then forced the Scottish Government to delay their plans until October 2027, and withdraw glass bottles from the scheme, in plans confirmed last month.
Environmental policy in Wales is a devolved matter but there are now fears Westminster may try to interfere with the Welsh deposit return scheme.
Recent reports suggest threats to the Welsh scheme come alongside lobbying from the glass industry to remove the material from any future proposals.
Environmental groups say an ambitious DRS model, which includes plastic and glass bottles and metal cans, would follow actions by many European countries and is key to tackling Britain’s waste crisis.
They argue a comprehensive scheme capturing as many materials as possible will be easier for consumers to understand and is the most effective model for reducing waste.
In 2023, Nature 2030 polling revealed that some seven-in-ten people in Wales wanted glass bottles to remain in the country’s proposed deposit return scheme.
Businesses say there is a need for an ambitious and consistent scheme across all four nations of the UK to support trade and create simplicity for consumers.
Some 60 per cent of Welsh adults polled also revealed they believed the scope of the scheme should be consistent across all four nations of the UK – for example including plastic and glass bottles and metal cans.
Vikki Howells, Welsh Labour MS for Cynon Valley, said:
“Having an incentive for people to return their litter has been proven to work in other countries and a deposit return scheme is not going to work properly unless glass is included.
“The Welsh Labour Government should show UK Labour how an ambitious deposit return scheme that includes plastic and glass bottles, as well as metal cans, can work across the whole of the UK. This can allay any concerns from industry and from local government.”
Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said:
“Keep Wales Tidy published a policy document in 2006 where we called for a mandatory deposit return scheme for plastic, glass, and metal drinks containers to protect our landscapes from litter.
“18 years later, while we recognise the need for a pragmatic approach to delivering a DRS, we remain bitterly disappointed by the decision to delay its implementation once again. We do, however, welcome Wales’ clear ambition to establish a world-class ‘all-in’ system here – which includes glass – building on our well-established reputation as international leaders in recycling.
“We encourage other governments within the UK to match this level of ambition, rather than tie Wales to the lowest common denominator position.”
Nature 2030 is a campaign bringing together the power of nature and the strength of policy with the aim of building a formidable coalition for global change. For further information, visit: https://nature2030.com/