Wales DRS approved

On 25 March, the Welsh parliament (Senedd) voted in favour of new regulations that will establish a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in Wales from October 2027.

In passing the regulations, it now provides the certainty needed for the work to implement the scheme to now progress in partnership with industry, local government and delivery partners.

Following the vote, the deputy first minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: “This is a significant moment for Wales. International evidence shows a Deposit Return Scheme can tackle litter, improve on the go recycling and further reduce waste. This will keep valuable materials in circulation for longer — building on the world-leading recycling system Wales has already developed.

“I look forward to working closely with businesses, local authorities, and communities as we move towards implementation in 2027.”

The Welsh Government will now enter the next phase of implementation, including the appointment of the Deposit Management Organisation to run the scheme and delivery of the detailed operational arrangements ready for October 2027, alongside continued stakeholder engagement and partnership working.

The Welsh Government has said it will also look at how reusable drinks containers could be included alongside single-use deposit items, helping to reduce waste and support a more circular economy.

Jason Galley, director and chief executive of the Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA), commented: “The passing of the Deposit Return Scheme regulations by the Welsh Senedd marks an important milestone for UK circularity. While this now provides certainty there are key areas to be resolved including the plans for refill, how interoperability will work across different materials and of course ensuring a variable deposit to not distort the market towards larger plastic containers and away from right-sized containers like cans that support portion control and reduced waste. The swift appointment of a Deposit Management Organisation to manage the scheme’s complexity should help to move through these challenges.

“The aluminium can’s ability to be recycled endlessly means it’s a recycling superhero. A well‑designed Deposit Return Scheme presents a significant opportunity to fully harness the inherent circularity of the aluminium beverage can and MPMA and our members will continue to work in close partnership with governments and Deposit Management Organisations to realise the delivery of interoperable schemes.”