Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh has confirmed that glass will not be included in the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for England and Northern Ireland. The scheme, set to launch in 2027, will instead focus on PET plastic, steel, and aluminium drink containers.
While Wales will include glass in its DRS, Scotland previously announced that it would exclude glass, a decision not addressed by Creagh. The scheme will cover single-use drinks containers ranging from 150ml to 3 litres in all four nations once implemented.
Creagh’s confirmation came in response to a parliamentary written question by Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke. The question, directed to Environment Secretary Steve Reed, sought clarification on whether the potential environmental benefits of including PET plastic bottles, glass, and metal containers had been assessed.
Creagh also outlined that the Deposit Management Organisation will be responsible for achieving a 90% collection rate of DRS containers by the third year of the scheme. Further details on the financial and environmental benefits will be included in the DRS Final Impact Assessment, expected when the relevant legislation is introduced in Parliament.
Campaigner Reactions to Glass Exclusion
Campaigners have expressed disappointment over the decision to exclude glass from the scheme. Jenni Hume, Director of Reloop, a zero-waste non-profit, criticised the move, noting that the inclusion of glass bottles would maximise the environmental benefits of the DRS. She praised the Welsh government’s efforts to demonstrate the viability of glass inclusion and voiced concerns about the impact of industry lobbying on this decision.
Jane Martin, CEO of City to Sea, echoed these concerns, citing the high prevalence of drinks-related litter, including glass, on English beaches. She questioned the government's commitment to a zero-waste economy and urged ministers to reconsider before finalising the proposals, noting that many global DRS schemes already include glass.
You can view our previous story, "Labour government accelerates DRS rollout [01.08.2024]".
