Supermarket chiefs urge govt to delay roll out of 2027 DRS
Supermarket chiefs has urged the government to postpone the launch of the deposit return scheme (DRS) as it claimed the proposed October 2027 roll out was “not feasible”.
In a letter to environment secretary Steve Reed, seen by The Grocer, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) detailed challenges that the scheme would inflict on retailers, such as significant costs.
It is understood that the BRC also warned the DRS risks being ineffective following the news that Wales is to move forward with its own deposit return scheme in a bid to encourage recycling, as it remains committed to including glass bottles.
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The previous UK Conservative government had ruled that glass could not be included in a deposit return scheme due to the Internal Market Act 2020, which looks to prevent internal trade barriers in the UK.
It comes despite Wales having previously put out a combined policy statement with the English, Scottish and Northern Irish governments to facilitate “interoperable schemes across the UK”.
In England, the scheme was originally due to start this year but was delayed last April until October 2027.
Last week, when speaking of regulatory taxes such as extended producer responsibility for packaging and the DRS, Tesco chief executive Ken Murphy said: “There’s a number of moments that will influence our cost base and the cost base of the industry.
“We’d be very keen to work with the government to make sure that they are managed and mitigated to the greatest extent.”
3 Comments. Leave new
I would still put all my glass and plastic in my council’s recycling bins which they collect from the kerbside of my house. It’s easier for me than transporting and legging all my plastic and glass to the supermarket. The DRC scheme is just another way for the supermarket for increasing prices, government to increase taxesfor a service my Council provides by and too me that I pay for through and by council tax.
Good for you Leslie for putting all your recyclables in the right bin but unfortunately this country is full of litterbugs and if you ever walked outside you’d notice mounts of litter which mostly consists of those containers in scope – cans and bottles. I would rather continue putting my recyclables in the right bin but also have this scheme implemented so people litter less. Nothing motivates more than extra earnings. Also you can limit the consumption of drinks in those containers if you don’t want to pay the deposit. It’s a win-win for everyone, just look at most European countries with the scheme in place and notice how clean they are.
Well said James! And well done MPs working for this yesterday despite the inevitable naysaying by the BRC.