Written question WQ100711

The inclusion of glass in the DRS was fully considered in the policy development and impact assessment processes undertaken in developing the regulations passed by the last Senedd. The Regulatory Impact Assessment concluded that the environmental benefits of including glass outweigh the associated costs.

In line with the regulations, the scheme will commence on 1 October 2027 alongside the schemes in the rest of the UK. With the vast majority of schemes internationally including glass within their scope, there is a wealth of experience available to support the implementation in Wales.

As set out in the regulations, glass drinks containers will also be subject to a four-year transition period, during which monetary deposits and scheme-specific labelling requirements will not apply, thereby providing further time for industry to adapt.

The reuse targets contained in the Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (Wales) Regulations 2026 apply to the Deposit Management Organisation and form an important part of the legislation, which will support the widescale piloting and initial roll-out of reuse in line with the world’s best Deposit Return Schemes.

As an industry-led organisation appointed by the governments across the UK, Exchange for Change is very well placed to deliver Wales’ Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in a way which ensures full UK-wide interoperability.

Once the scheme is operational, glass drinks containers within scope of the DRS will no longer be liable for packaging Extended Producer Responsibility waste disposal fees, ensuring a coherent approach across producer responsibility regimes while supporting Wales’ circular economy objectives.