UK Deposit Return Scheme, DRS, for Drinks Packaging Containers, 2024 – Government Announce Consultation

Yesterday, March 24th 2021, The Government Announced a Consultation to bring in a Deposit Return Scheme, DRS, for Drinks Packaging, across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and hopefully Scotland, by 2024.
The Consultation forms part of a wider Extended Producer Responsibility, EPR, for Packaging.
The Consultation which is open for 10 weeks until the 4th June 2021,
outlines proposals for the creation of a Deposit Management Organsation, DMO, which would require Producers to finance.
Retailers would be required to accept all DRS containers returned to their
store and add the deposit price to the purchase price.
Defra said its “preferred economic option” was such an all-in scheme, and
the annual direct cost to business during the 2022-32 period was estimated at £323m.
The ‘all in’ scheme would cover PET and glass bottles along with steel and
aluminium cans.
All retailers that sold drinks covered by the DRS would be required to take
returns either by a reverse vending machine or manually. Defra is seeking views on how this would work for online retailers and takeaway meal delivery services.
Full details of the Consultation Documents can be found by clicking here. Co2Compliance will be responding to the consultation, and welcome your input @ DRS@co2compliance.co.uk by the 28th May prior to consultation deadline on the 4th June 2021.