Dear Secretary Barclay,
Following your recent remarks to the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee, I’m sharing my concerns regarding the anticipated delays in launching the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for England.
Despite ongoing dialogue and my letter dated March 8 seeking clarity on this initiative, I was disheartened to learn from the media about further postponements to its implementation.
Your administration pledged in 2018, reaffirming this commitment in your 2019 manifesto, to develop a DRS for metal, plastic, and glass containers. Five years have passed since then, and the 2023 decision to exclude glass from the scheme already diluted this commitment. It’s now evident that further delays are expected.
UK On-Site Deposit Return Scheme (Credits: Circular Online)
Scotland was poised to roll out a functioning DRS without the UK Government’s intervention, which halted our progress. This blockade delayed environmental and economic benefits for us all and fueled uncertainty for businesses regarding the scheme’s UK-wide execution and delivery.
The UK Government’s decision to leverage the Internal Market Act (IMA) against Scotland’s DRS advancement has only intensified this uncertainty, making it evident that there’s a readiness to override devolved legislation.
This disregard for four-nation agreements and the established process of Common Frameworks is concerning. Despite these challenges, officials from the four nations have collaborated extensively to design and agree upon interoperable schemes.
Minister Moore’s March 1 letter acknowledged the big contributions of Scottish officials, indicating that our groundwork has informed the collective UK approach. This collaboration aimed to ensure seamless operation across the UK, acknowledging the devolved nature of this policy.
Bottle Return Scheme (Credits: 365 Retail)
Our unwavering commitment has always been to a unified UK scheme that operates effectively across all regions. The scheme was designed with interoperability in mind, aligning with all UK nations’ proposals discussed and consulted upon.
I urge you to concentrate on finalizing a collaborative DRS that respects the devolved responsibilities of this policy and provides businesses with the stability required for success.
Part of this effort should involve establishing a realistic, mutually agreed-upon timeline for implementation rather than leaving room for speculation and uncoordinated decisions.
This letter has been shared with relevant ministers across the devolved governments and critical officials within Defra, emphasizing the importance of a coordinated approach to the DRS.
Sincerely,
Lorna Slater
