UK's Bottle Deposit Scheme Delayed Until 2027: Disagreement Over Including Glass Causes Delay and Criticism
The UK's bottle deposit and return scheme (DRS), which aims to reward consumers for recycling bottles with money or vouchers, has been delayed until October 2027.
The delay is due to disagreements between the UK and Welsh governments over the inclusion of glass in the scheme.
The UK government opposes including glass, while the Welsh government wants it included.
The delay has been criticized by charities as undermining the government's environmental commitments.
All four UK nations have been working together to agree on a joint approach to the schemes, with public consultations in 2019 and 2021.
The Scottish and Welsh governments proposed adding glass to the UK's deposit return scheme (DRS) for plastic and metal.
However, the UK government disagreed, stating that including glass would create unnecessary complexity and expense.
The Scottish government's planned start of their scheme was delayed due to potential conflict with the UK Internal Market Act.
The UK government offered an exemption, but only if glass was excluded, leading to controversy and a further delay until at least October 2025.
The Welsh government is pushing for the inclusion of glass in its plans for a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic waste, causing a two-year delay in the national scheme.
The UK government criticizes this decision, with Greenpeace UK's Rudy Schulkind calling it a "mockery" of the government's commitment to reducing plastic waste.
Europe has successfully implemented similar schemes for years.