The introduction of a deposit return scheme (DRS) in Wales could lead to a price hike of around 50p per bottle, according to industry leaders. The British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) has sounded the alarm that incorporating glass containers into the scheme will significantly increase complexity and expense for producers, with estimated costs potentially passed on to consumers.
Andy Bagnall, Director General of the BSDA, highlighted the added costs associated with collecting and recycling glass, citing the need for specialist infrastructure and more expensive reverse vending machines. He warned that requiring glass collection from the outset would have "very negative consequences" for businesses and consumers, estimating a 50p per bottle increase in production costs.
With the Welsh DRS set to come into effect on 1 October 2027, drinks producers are under pressure to adapt to a system that is likely to differ significantly from those planned for other parts of the UK. Radnor Hills' Chief Executive, William Watkins, described the current plans as a "complete and utter mess" and stressed the importance of achieving consistency across the England-Wales border.
Industry representatives have repeatedly cautioned the Welsh government that these additional costs may be passed on to shoppers or, alternatively, companies may withdraw products from sale in Wales altogether. With only weeks remaining before the 2027 deadline, industry figures are urging for swift decisions to appoint a deposit management organisation (DMO) capable of overseeing the scheme's launch.
A key sticking point in negotiations reportedly concerns the proposed number of reverse vending machines, with the Welsh government requiring 3,500 machines capable of handling glass and the DMO applicant proposing only 100 such machines. Bagnall emphasised the urgency, stating that there is "no time left" to design a separate Welsh system from scratch if a DMO cannot be appointed.