The Environment Secretary told MPs the 2025 deposit return scheme (DRS) start date is “unrealistic” and 2027 is now “more likely”.
Steve Barclay MP, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), also said the UK government would decline a request from the Welsh government for full exclusion from the Internal Market Act, which would allow them to collect glass as part of its DRS.
This is a departure from his predecessor Thérèse Coffey who seemed more receptive to Wales including glass in its scheme when questioned by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee last year.
“Given this balance between the benefits of the scheme versus the benefits of having something that is interoperable, I don’t think 2025 is realistic; and certainly, I don’t think business would view it as a realistic deadline,” Barclay told Conservative MP Philip Dunne.
Barclay said a 2027 deadline was now “more likely”, but emphasised that this is the subject of ongoing discussions within government.
Given this balance between the benefits of the scheme versus the benefits of having something that is interoperable, I don’t think 2025 is realistic.
“I am not in a position to give an exact date because, as a Unionist, one of the things that has been very important to me is we have an approach that is interoperable across the UK.”
He went on to say that he felt businesses would find it “extremely frustrating” if different schemes were operating across the UK.
Last year, the Scottish government’s DRS collapsed after the UK government declined a request for full exclusion from the Internal Market Act. This led to the Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater accusing the UK government of being intent on “sabotaging” the Scottish parliament.
During the scheduled appearance before the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, the Defra Secretary also apologised for not “formally” stepping back sooner from a decision on approving an Energy-from-Waste facility in his constituency.
CIWM’s response
Reacting to the Defra Secretary’s comments, Lee Marshall, Director of Innovation and Technical Services, said: “CIWM believes that a DRS should not be implemented until the extended producer responsibility and Simper Recycling schemes have been introduced and we have seen the impact they have on recycling rates.
“However, the way in which the DRS implementation has been handled has created unnecessary uncertainty within the sector which in turn risks investment, so from that viewpoint this latest announcement is unwelcome.
Constantly shifting deadlines, goals and details have seriously impacted the collection and packaging reforms.
“Constantly shifting deadlines, goals and details have seriously impacted the collection and packaging reforms, despite having a sector that is willing and able to introduce new services to increase recycling rates and help move the world beyond waste.
“We therefore urge the government to provide definitive timetables for these key policies, putting an end to the current uncertainly and allowing progress to be made.”
