Wales regulations mark ‘big step forward’ for UK-wide deposit return scheme

Commenting on today's deposit return scheme regulations laid by the Welsh Government and the UK Government's decision to grant a conditional exclusion for single-use glass in Wales (link), Andy Bagnall, Director General at the British Soft Drinks Association, said:

"This is a big step forward in establishing a UK-wide deposit return scheme, enabling a unified approach for aluminium cans and plastic bottles, although granting an exclusion for single-use glass means challenges remain.

"We look forward to the Welsh Government now rapidly appointing a scheme administrator and ensuring glass is included in the scheme in the most practical way possible, by keeping the required number of glass-enabled reverse vending machines to a minimum.

"The Welsh Government must also engage with industry to resolve the issues inherent in different schemes on either side of the border - including the risk of substantial fraud - to remove the cliff edge in four years' time when the transition period ends.

"This pragmatic approach is the only way to deliver a workable scheme without unintended consequences for shoppers and small businesses. The soft drinks industry will play its part so that, together, we can kickstart the circular economy, boost recycling and reduce litter."

• Notes for Editors
  For many years, the British Soft Drinks Association has supported the introduction of an interoperable, UK-wide deposit return scheme with a go-live date of October 2027
• BSDA members are making a significant contribution to the £1bn+ investment in establishing a world-class deposit return scheme to help kickstart the UK's circular economy, reduce littering and boost recycling
• Setting up the deposit return scheme will create 4,000 new jobs in the circular economy across the UK
• International experience demonstrates that an effective Four Nations' deposit return scheme could cut litter by as much as 89%, ridding our streets of the 4bn plastic bottles and 2.5bn cans that go unrecycled every year
• While we understand the Welsh Government's ambition to build on Wales' recycling success by exploring a scheme that includes glass and reusable containers, with Industry committed to trialling the viability of ways to deliver reuse, too much divergence from the UK scheme would put the chance to clean up our streets at risk, whilst also inviting damaging consequences for consumers and increasing costs for small businesses in Wales
• Reverse vending machines that collect reusable glass cost more and require greater space than one handling plastic and metal containers, and granting permission for reuse could have landed Welsh businesses' with a ?100 million bill and resulted in the price of a glass bottled soft drink or beer being pushed up by 50p
• With Wales representing just 4.6% of the UK drinks market, these costs would be unviable for many drinks manufacturers, especially smaller businesses.

ENDS