After Wales’s withdrawal from a UK-wide deposit return scheme, the UK Government has said it is fully committed to launching a scheme aligned across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The UK Government also confirmed it was sticking to the timeframe of launching a deposit return scheme (DRS) in October 2027.
In a written statement, Irranca-Davies said that the Welsh Government could not proceed with a DRS due to issues caused by the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020.
The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) said Wales is in a unique position for implementing a deposit return scheme (DRS) as it ranks second in the world for recycling.
Defra said it will continue to work in partnership with the Welsh Government as it makes decisions regarding a DRS in Wales.
DRS regulation expected this month
The UK Government said it intends to lay regulations for England and Northern Ireland in November 2024, when parliamentary time allows, as the next step in the delivery of the scheme.
As part of the announcement, Defra said the DRS will create around 4,000 new jobs across the UK, citing a report by The Countryside Charity, and will attract investment in infrastructure required to deliver the scheme.
The UK Government also committed to working closely with industry to design a scheme that works for businesses and consumers.
