This comes ahead of second round consultations on the scheme which are due to be released imminently— although they could be delayed until the second quarter— alongside consultations on other aspects of the Resources and Waste Strategy.
Commenting on the expected delay of the DRS, Tom Fyans, campaigns and policy director at CPRE, accused the government of shirking its responsibilities.
“Despite huge public appetite to tackle the waste crisis, we have mountains of litter piling up in our countryside. New research shows that around 8 billion drinks containers are landfilled, littered or burnt every year,” he said.
Mr Fyans added: “Despite all this, the government looks set to delay a Deposit Return Scheme until the end of 2024 – essentially shirking their responsibility and waiting for a new government to show any leadership on the issue. This amounts to six long years of dither and delay”.
EAC
An Environmental Audit Committee later today is expected to quiz recycling minister Rebecca Pow on how a DRS will be rolled out. Mrs Pow will give evidence alongside Defra’s deputy director of waste and recycling, Chris Preston.
This follows another panel discussion where retailers and producers with “members seeking to understand the impact the design of the scheme could have on them and from campaigners to understand the views of consumers”, according to the EAC.
DRS
The CPRE have long been advocates of a DRS. As far back as 2011 they said such a scheme could generate more than £430 million for charities and community initiatives (see letsrecycle.com story). The then Prime Minister, David Cameron, signalled his tentative support for a scheme.
The charity has now said the latest possible delay will amount to “much more than kicking the can down the road”.
Mr Fyans added: “It seems that in the face of industry lobbying, ministers would prefer to stick their heads in the sand rather than tackle the problem of waste head on.
“The public want to see action, not just warm words. The evidence is clear that an ‘all-in’ Deposit Return Scheme is the best option for people, planet and our economy, yet the government are showing no leadership on the issue at all. It beggars belief that when the evidence is so clear that an ‘all-in’ deposit system is needed, they are still unwilling to make the polluter pay.”
Deadline
A DRS was scheduled to be introduced in 2023, but its delay has been touted previously. In the government’s spending review, the document said a DRS will be introduced “at the end of this parliament” in 2024, while at conferences some drink manufactures had also said it would be rolled out a year later than proposed.
However, Defra said it remained committed to introducing the measures in the strategy. There is opposition to the DRS and some in local authority quarters feel it should be delayed until after the introduction of the new Extended Producer Responsibility system is brought in.
The potential delay comes as the Environment Bill was also pushed back to the next parliamentary session (see letsrecycle.com story).
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