The UK government has confirmed that Wales will be allowed to include glass in its deposit return scheme (DRS), with a transitional period running until 2031.
The scheme will still launch alongside the wider UK system in October 2027 and remain interoperable with the rest of the UK, giving businesses time to prepare for glass returns.
The UK Government has granted the Welsh Government an exemption to the Internal Markets Act, which allows them to go ahead with a deposit return scheme that diverges from that being introduced in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Under the Welsh scheme, glass containers will be included in the materials in scope from day one, but will only begin to have a deposit charged on them from 2031, while the deposits for containers made from aluminium, steel and PET plastic are still scheduled to come into effect at the same time as the wider UK scheme in October 2027.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, said the exclusion was necessary because Wales will include glass bottles within scope, a key point of divergence from the DRS model being developed in the rest of the UK.
In a statement, he said: “We have always been clear that we need to progress a scheme which meets Wales’ needs and delivers improvement against our high recycling rates, whilst managing interoperability across the UK.
“In practice, this means a scheme that includes glass bottles in Wales, even though the previous UK Government chose to diverge from that previously collectively agreed scope.
“That difference in scope has meant the need for an exclusion from the UK Internal Market Act.
“Through partnership working with the other Governments in the UK, I am pleased to be able to confirm their agreement to that exclusion being brought forward.”
Commenting on the news, Travis Way, Managing Director at EcoVend, the RVM specialists and a brand by international circular economy specialists Reconomy, said: “We welcome the UK government’s decision to give Wales the green light on the inclusion of glass in its deposit return scheme, providing businesses with the time needed to prepare for full implementation by 2031.
“Clearer guidance on the scheme’s design and integration with the wider UK system will be crucial for drinks producers and retailers as they plan for October 2027.
"By supporting the safe and efficient return of glass alongside plastics and metals, the Welsh scheme has the opportunity to set a benchmark for how deposit return systems can work efficiently for businesses and be easy for consumers to use.
“Deposit return schemes are key to a circular economy, helping reduce litter and recover valuable materials. This confirmation is a major step for Wales in turning more materials into reusable resources and creating cleaner streets and public spaces.”
From launch, the Welsh DRS will cover single-use drinks containers made from:
- PET plastic
- Aluminium
- Steel
- Glass
Containers from 150ml to 3 litres will be included.
However, while glass will be in scope from day one, ministers have confirmed a four-year transition period.
During this time, glass containers will be exempt from labelling requirements and will carry a zero-pence deposit.
The Welsh Government said this is intended to give producers and retailers time to adapt and to align with the phased introduction of reuse targets.