Wales brings forward deposit return scheme to 2027

The Welsh Government has announced plans to bring forward its timetable for its deposit return scheme (DRS), to align with the rest of the UK whilst maintaining its commitment to include glass containers and prioritise reuse.

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, confirmed Wales would accelerate its implementation timetable following extensive engagement with industry stakeholders who highlighted operational complexities arising from the lack of a unified UK approach.

While England, Scotland and Northern Ireland will exclude glass containers from their schemes launching in October 2027, Wales remains committed to including glass bottles alongside plastic (PET), steel, and aluminium containers.

This divergence stems from growing littering concerns highlighted in Keep Wales Tidy's 2023-24 survey data. The research found drinks-related litter on 43.6 per cent of Welsh streets, with glass bottle occurrences more than doubling over four years to reach 5.2 per cent of streets surveyed.

"With surveys by Keep Wales Tidy in 2023-24, showing drinks-related litter on 43.6 per cent of Welsh streets, with the presence of glass bottles more than doubling in four years, broken glass poses growing safety risks, especially in parks, play areas, and coastal locations," Irranca-Davies stated in his written announcement.

Glass containers are particularly suitable for reuse systems as they can be cleaned and refilled multiple times without degrading, unlike plastic bottles which are typically recycled into lower-grade materials. By including glass in its DRS, Welsh Government aims to create the infrastructure necessary to support bottle return and refill operations, differentiating it from schemes elsewhere in the UK that focus primarily on single-use recycling. This approach aligns with circular economy principles and supports the Welsh Government's broader environmental commitments under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act.

Industry concerns and phased implementation

Industry representatives had expressed concerns about the operational complexity and costs associated with different schemes operating across UK nations, particularly around labelling requirements and fraud prevention. These concerns were validated when Wales withdrew from the joint UK approach in November 2024.

To address these concerns, the Welsh Government has committed to implementing a phased approach that would eliminate requirements for different labelling systems and reduce fraud risks. "Industry have highlighted the need for a phased approach within which there would be no requirement to have different labelling and no fraud risk, as this would also prevent consequential impacts on current production and distribution arrangements," Irranca-Davies explained.
The announcement also includes provisions for small and medium enterprises, with the Welsh Government working to ensure sensible arrangements such as exclusions for low-volume products.

The Welsh approach contrasts with developments elsewhere in the UK, where schemes have faced significant delays and scope reductions. Scotland's original scheme, which included glass, was postponed multiple times before aligning with the rest of the UK's October 2027 timeline without glass inclusion.