MPs call for DRS to be consistent across UK

Publishing its response to the government’s consultation of the DRS for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the EAC has urged Defra to introduce a scheme which is “interoperable” throughout the UK.

In a statement published today (21 May) the committee argued that it would be easier for consumers to understand, and simpler for the drinks industry, if the rules for DRS were consistent across the four nations of the UK.

Cartons

In its response, the EAC also recommended that cartons be included which is not currently within the government’s scope.

The EAC argues that there are strong environmental arguments in favour of collecting cartons, and there is existing capacity within the UK for cartons to be properly recycled and repurposed.

It warned that failure to include cartons from would result in “greater costs” should the material be added at a later stage.

Glass

The EAC also heard evidence that including glass in the DRS could enhance recycling rates further, with 18% of wasted containers in the UK in 2019 being glass, despite good kerbside collection.

However, it added that this is dependent on glass being compacted rather than crushed and ensuring safety and space concerns for small retailers are considered.

‘Disappointing’

EAC chairman Philip Dunne added that it was “disappointing” that the government delayed the introduction of the DRS and warned that it is “critical” the consultation helps finalise the design of the scheme so it’s not delayed further.

Mr Dunne said: “Over recent years the environmental impact of single-use packaging has been brought into focus. Yet despite growing awareness, and increased rates of recycling, in 2019 Brits still wasted eight billion drinks containers. This is not just a major wasted resource but a huge source of litter, polluting our streets, roadsides, rivers and beaches.

He continued: “It is absolutely right for producers to become responsible for the whole lifecycle of their packaging, but it must be fair across sectors. That is why the Government must ensure the DRS roll-out includes all materials and allows the Deposit Management Organisation to determine the fee structure across sectors.”