A statement from Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, confirmed that the process to appoint a Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) will begin today (28 November 2025).
Applications will remain open until 23 January 2026, with the successful applicant expected to be appointed from March 2026, subject to Senedd approval of DRS regulations due to be laid in February.
The UK DMO will be responsible for the operation of the DRS scheme in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, led by CEO Russel Davies.
Glass and reuse to be phased in
The Deputy First Minister explained that the move responded to industry calls to begin the appointment process as early as possible, maximising the preparation window ahead of implementation.
Since announcing the next steps for DRS development in November 2024, Welsh ministers have been engaging with producers, retailers, local authorities, recycling and reuse organisations and environmental groups and have identified two industry priorities:
- Aligning DRS implementation dates across the UK
- Adopting a phased introduction of glass and reuse to reflect differences in scheme scope across the four nations
Glass has been a sensitive issue across UK-wide DRS discussions, with industry cautioning that divergent inclusion timelines could create operational and cost inconsistencies between nations.
Irranca-Davies explained: “We have made adaptations to the scheme that will both ensure we can bring forward a DRS that delivers clear benefit to Wales, by supporting the transition to reuse and building upon our world class recycling, whilst also taking a pragmatic, phased approach on glass and reuse to ensure interoperability within the UK.”
Reuse to play pivotal role
As in the other UK nations, the DMO will be responsible for the end-to-end operation of the deposit system, including managing payments, overseeing return point infrastructure, ensuring material flows into recycling or reuse streams and coordinating data, compliance and enforcement functions.
Wales’s DMO will also be expected to steer a transition toward reuse, a policy direction the government sees as fundamental to achieving “Beyond Recycling” outcomes.
Irranca-Davies said: “Reuse is not just good for the environment; it is also an economic opportunity that can reduce costs for producers, create new green jobs, strengthen supply chain resilience and bring the opportunity to retain greater economic added value within Wales and the rest of the UK.
“It can also help contribute to lower living costs and reduced inequality.”
A public consultation on the phasing-in of reuse closed earlier this month, and its findings will help shape the DMO’s framework and responsibilities.
Travis Way, Managing Director at EcoVend, commented on the statement: “This is an important and encouraging step forward in Wales’ DRS journey.
“Securing the right DMO will be critical – the organisation chosen will set the tone for how efficiently, transparently and effectively the scheme operates from day one.
“With this momentum, the focus must now shift to implementation on the ground.
“A successful DRS relies on robust infrastructure, and reverse vending machines will play a central role in enabling people across Wales to easily return drinks containers and keep valuable materials in circulation.”
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