The government’s response to the consistency consultation was due towards the end of March. The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had expected to launch the response at an event at a recycling plant in East London to have been attended by Secretary of State, Thérèse Coffey (see letsrecycle.com story).
However, this was pulled and the response was pushed back until “after the local elections”. Defra has maintained the response is due “shortly”.
Tesco said it a strategic report for packaging this week (15 May) that it “stands ready” to play an active role, but called for the delivery of consistency to be quickened.
“We strongly welcome the government’s commitment to consistent kerbside collection and recycling infrastructure,” the UK’s largest supermarket said.
It added: “Tesco stands ready to play an active part in helping make recycling simple and easy for customers and this will play a major role. We strongly encourage an acceleration of the timetable for delivery.”
DRS
Tesco added that it will “continue to advocate” for the government to establish a consistent recycling infrastructure across the UK.
The retailer backed a “cost-effective” DRS in 2018 (see letsrecycle.com story) and has been running trials of the scheme since.
In the report, Tesco called for the Scottish DRS to be delayed again so it can be rolled out in line with the rest of the UK. The DRS has been pencilled in for England, Northern Ireland and Wales for October 2025, with Scotland’s much-delayed system due for 2024.
The report says: “We must learn the lessons from Scotland on Deposit Return Schemes. We have been testing DRS since 2018 and have built enormous expertise in how to make a scheme successful with customers, and financially viable.
“Having multiple different approaches within the UK jeopardises the sustainability and viability of schemes and a joined up approach across the UK must be adopted.”
We must learn the lessons from Scotland on Deposit Return Schemes
- Tesco
Packaging
Other calls by Tesco in the report were for the government to help “create a level playing field” on produce packaging removal.
“This should start with products we think are most achievable — for example where multiple retailers share the same supplier. Government intervention will ensure change is made at scale and create a level playing field — where packaging changes will not put any one retailer at a competitive disadvantage,” Tesco said.
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