DRS for England and Northern Ireland to Exclude Glass
The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) planned for England and Northern Ireland will only cover PET plastic, steel, and aluminium drink containers, as confirmed by Mary Creagh, Minister for the Circular Economy. Glass, however, will not be part of the scheme in these regions, unlike in Wales, where glass will be included. This decision contrasts with Scotland’s position, which excluded glass in its own DRS implementation last year, though this was not directly addressed in Creagh’s statement.
Details of the Deposit Return Scheme
The DRS aims to reduce waste from single-use drink containers ranging in size from 150 ml to 3 litres. The scheme will be rolled out across all four nations of the UK by 2027, targeting improved recycling rates and reductions in litter.
This announcement was made on 10 October 2024, in response to a parliamentary question from Sarah Dyke, Liberal Democrat MP for Glastonbury and Somerton. The question had sought clarification on whether the inclusion of PET plastic bottles, glass bottles, and metal containers had been assessed in terms of their potential environmental impact within the DRS.
Collection Targets and Goals
Once operational, the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) will be tasked with achieving a 90% collection rate of DRS-covered containers by the third year of the scheme. Further detailed analysis, including economic impacts and reductions in litter disamenity, will be outlined in the DRS Final Impact Assessment, expected to be published when the Statutory Instrument is submitted to Parliament.
International Context
Implementing a DRS that excludes glass is not unprecedented. Globally, there are over 50 DRS schemes, and 46 of these include glass containers. Those that do not include glass often have separate systems for managing glass bottle returns.
Ongoing Review
While the decision to exclude glass from England and Northern Ireland’s DRS has raised questions, Creagh noted that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is conducting a ‘rapid review’ of the scheme, although its findings are yet to be released. Environmental advocates continue to urge the government to reconsider the inclusion of glass before final proposals are confirmed.
In conclusion, while the DRS is expected to make a significant positive environmental impact through increased recycling of plastic and metal containers, concerns remain about the exclusion of glass and the potential missed opportunity to further reduce waste. The final outcome of Defra’s review may still influence the ultimate scope of the scheme.