The new Labour government is planning to roll out a deposit return scheme (DRS) ahead of its 2027 schedule proposed back in March, Circular Economy minister Mary Creagh stated on Wednesday (31).
Confirming the move, Creagh said, “This government is committed to creating a roadmap to a zero-waste economy – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs; our economy prospers, and nature thrives.
“We are reviewing the suite of packaging reforms and are going to work with our devolved government counterparts, industry and other stakeholders to determine the next steps for the DRS. I would be happy to update the House in due course.”
Creagh was responding to a letter penned by Liberal Democrat MP for St Albans Daisy Cooper on whether Labour plans to introduce deposit return scheme for drink containers before October 2027.
In a DRS, consumers are charged an additional deposit fee when they purchase a drink in a single-use container. This deposit acts as an incentive to support recycling - it is redeemed when the consumer returns the empty container to a return point.
The previous Conservative government earlier decided October 2025 as the launch date. Earlier this year, the launch date was further pushed back to October 2027.
This comes after senior politicians and environmental campaigners urged DEFRA Secretary Steve Reed last week to urgently deliver on plans to tackle waste and boost recycling.
Speaking at a Nature 2030 and Keep Wales Tidy Parliamentary event, Liberal Democrat peer Cathy Bakewell said it was “essential” the deposit return scheme was in place by 2026.
Owen Derbyshire, chief executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said there was a need for "strength and certainty" from Government.
“Labour has the clear opportunity with its historic majority to fix the mess we have been left by the previous government on DRS. Both the environment and industry can no longer afford further delays and disruption to a scheme that should have come in years ago.
“With building a circular economy as one of Defra’s stated priorities, I urge the Secretary of State Steve Reed MP, to work with the devolved administrations to implement a DRS with plastic, glass and metal containers included in 2027 – we must get back on track in delivering a circular economy, Labour must be bolder and deliver an effective deposit return scheme," Derbyshire said.
