Supermarket bosses have told the Welsh government its plans for a deposit return scheme are “antiquated” and will heap further inflation on hard-pressed shoppers.
In a response to the Welsh government’s launch of a consultation on its proposals today, retailers urged ministers in Wales to drop their insistence on including glass, warning its compromise proposals were a recipe for failure.
However, the Welsh government insisted it was pushing ahead on the back of overwhelming public support, and said including glass was true to the original plans for DRS agreed by other nations.
Wales announced a “compromise deal” last month, saying it was willing to accelerate its timetable for a DRS rollout to keep hopes alive of a UK-wide launch in October 2027.
Wales has suggested a solution whereby single-use glass is included “from day one” in the scheme, but does not require deposits or changes to labelling.
It then claims it will work with the industry on a major trial to develop a “trailblazing” scheme for reusable glass returns pioneered in Wales.
Today’s consultation says: “In parallel, where there is a difference in scope between the DRS in Wales and the other schemes within the UK, the phased approach will include transition arrangements such as a zero deposit for single-use glass containers to avoid the need for changes to labelling, production, or distribution systems.
“With Wales ranked second in the world for recycling, implementing a DRS that will deliver benefit in a Welsh context is essential, but it also means that Wales is in a unique position to build on the leadership it has shown to date.
“Glass will be included in the DRS from the outset, but there will be a carefully phased approach that will allow for the gradual introduction of reuse and single-use glass-related obligations.
“This will include transitional arrangements to avoid disruption and the need for different labelling or changes to production and distribution systems.”
Industry backlash
However, The Grocer revealed last month that soft drinks companies and retailers were ready to torpedo the proposed solution, calling it “unworkable”.
Reacting to today’s consultation, Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the BRC, said: “Retailers look forward to working with the Welsh government to deliver a UK-wide deposit return scheme, but do not understand why it is pushing proposals to also include single-use glass containers without a deposit initially.
“We welcome the decision to align a scheme for metal and plastic containers, which makes it far more likely a four-nation system can be delivered and represents real progress towards a circular economy. Welsh ministers deserve credit for listening to businesses and experts on this point.
“However, we are not convinced by the current proposals for single-use glass. They risk adding unnecessary costs without delivering clear benefits for consumers or the environment. It would make far more sense to skip past this slightly antiquated approach and separately explore how we can expand the use of reusable glass containers, with industry already proposing a large-scale trial as an alternative. This would allow Wales to be a trailblazer in the circular economy, rather than invest in an outdated and costly approach.
“Most importantly, debate around glass must not delay progress on an aligned plastic and metal DRS across all four nations. The best approach is to first focus on delivering that aligned DRS alongside the other three UK nations, and then look strategically at the best solution for glass.”
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