A Deposit-return Scheme for Drink Containers

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:59 pm on 22 June 2021.

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Photo of Janet Finch-Saunders Janet Finch-Saunders Conservative 1:59, 22 June 2021

Thank you. You'll be aware that, last November, I brought forward a legislative proposal for a Bill that would make provisions to introduce a deposit-return scheme and to reduce waste in Wales, and a majority of 34 Members backed my proposal. Now, whilst you abstained, the vote did go in favour of this legislative proposal and, as you can imagine, I'm really keen to ensure that we do not lose that momentum gained, especially at the start of a new—and it being the sixth—Senedd term. I was therefore somewhat disappointed, First Minister, that with such a worthwhile and proven piece of legislation forthcoming, there is no clear commitment in your programme for government, introduced last week, to develop a DRS.

You quite rightly mentioned that Conwy County Borough Council is working with Welsh Government, Polytag Ltd and WRAP to trial the new DRS. The intention is for interviews with residents and recycling crews after the trial to provide more information on how the scheme could be used across Wales. Should the trial go well in Conwy—as in the Wirral, where 91 per cent of tagged packaging was successfully recycled—by when would you expect to have an all-Wales DRS in place that is aligned to and interoperable with other systems across the UK? Thank you. Diolch.