Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Deposit Return Scheme to be delayed further

Deposit Return Scheme to be delayed further
Photo: iStock
Getty Images

Launching the government’s flagship recycling scheme in 2025 is not realistic, Environment Secretary Steve Barclay told MPs on Tuesday (26) that a 2027 deadline for introducing the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is “probably more likely”.

The scheme, which would see consumers recoup a small deposit when they return single-use bottles and cans, has been in development in the Environment Department (Defra) since 2017 and was part of the 2019 Tory manifesto. However, its anticipated launch date has already been delayed from late 2024 to October 2025, after the scheme faced heavy criticism from some in the drinks industry.


Discrepancies between devolved administrations over whether glass bottles would be included have also complicated the roll-out.

Speaking to the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs Committee, Barclay said the Government has been working with industries as well as the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments to develop an aligned scheme.

“Given this balance between the benefits of the scheme versus the benefits of having something interoperable, I don’t think 2025 is now realistic and certainly I don’t think business would view it as a realistic deadline,” he said.

“But I suspect if I was pushed on it, a sort of 2027 deadline is probably more likely.”

Barclay said the issue is ongoing and continues to be an area of discussion within the Government.

“I’m not in a position to give a date on it, but certainly 2025 I don’t think is realistic,” he added.

Asked when the Government may lay the secondary legislation for the scheme, Barclay also said, “I’m not in a position to give an exact date today because I think as a Unionist, one of the things that has been very important to me is that we have an approach that is interoperable across the UK.

“And it is, therefore, right that we work closely with the DAs (devolved administrations) to have a scheme that aligns, and I think also that’s important to business as well because I think it’d be hugely frustrating to business if we have different schemes in different parts of the United Kingdom.”

He added that 55 per cent of litter falls within the scope of the DRS as “high-quality product that can be recycled”.

“The importance of policy is there and that’s why we’ve been working so closely with the DAs on it,” he said.

It comes after the Scottish and Welsh governments had plans for their respective schemes to include glass. But under UK government plans, the schemes in England and Northern Ireland would have excluded glass due to the additional challenges that come with recycling the material.

Environmental campaigners and companies such as Coca-Cola have criticised the delays to the scheme and have been calling on the Government to lay the legislation that can enact the scheme under the Environment Act as soon as possible.

More for you

Sainsbury’s local convenience store outlets
Image from Sainsbury's media
Image from Sainsbury's media

Sainsbury’s extends Aldi price-match campaign to 800 convenience stores

Supermarket Sainsbury’s has become the first grocer to extend its Aldi price-match campaign to its 800 local convenience store outlets.

In a bold move by its boss to win back market share from the German discounter, Britain’s second-largest supermarket chain today (4) has added price matches on 200 daily staples — including milk, chicken, bread and vegetable oil — in its local convenience stores.

Keep ReadingShow less
Glasgow retailer retires after serving community for 44 years

iStock image

iStock image

Glasgow retailer retires after serving community for 44 years

A convenience store owner in Glasgow has retired and handed over the keys after serving the community for 44 years.

The retiring shopkeeper couple, Abdul Haq and his wife Hameedah, have run Disqu Blu convenience store in Glasgow since 1980.

Keep ReadingShow less
innocent drinks, Co-op team up to donate portions of fruit and veg to charity

innocent drinks, Co-op team up to donate portions of fruit and veg to charity

innocent drinks, Europe’s leading healthy drinks company, is announcing a new partnership with Alexandra Rose Charity as it advances its mission to help people live well through the delicious goodness of fruits and vegetables.

Government statistics reveal that just one third of adults, and 12 per cent of 11–18-year-olds, are managing to get the recommended “Five a Day”. This is even starker for lower-income families, with the most deprived fifth of adults consuming 37 per cent less fruit and veg than the least deprived, and their children 29 per cent.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Spooktacular’ store POS drives sales, customer engagement for Nisa retailer NP Group

‘Spooktacular’ store POS drives sales, customer engagement for Nisa retailer NP Group

As the final key retail season of the year approaches, Nisa retailer NP Group is gearing up for Christmas with a renewed focus on store activation and point-of-sale (POS) strategy to drive sales following a successful Halloween.

With seasonal shopping trends in full swing, effective in-store activation and visibility are crucial for smaller retailers to capture customer attention and keep up with larger competitors. Data from Retail Economics shows that UK shoppers spent approximately £10 billion on seasonal products in 2023, with Halloween contributing £650 million alone, marking a steady increase in seasonal shopping over recent years.

Keep ReadingShow less