Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussion officials of his Department have had with representatives of Zero Waste Scotland on the potential merits of introducing a legislated deposit return scheme for plastic bottles.

As part of the Litter Strategy for England, the Government has established the independent Voluntary and Economic Incentives working group.

From 2 October to 20 November 2017 this working group held a call for evidence on measures to reduce littering of drinks containers and promote recycling. The focus was rigid and flexible plastic, glass or metal drinks containers that are sold sealed and used for the sale of alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, often for consumption ‘on the go’. This included seeking evidence on the costs, benefits and impacts of deposit and reward and return schemes.

The working group is currently analysing responses to this call for evidence, and is due to provide advice to Ministers on potential incentives for drinks containers shortly.

Defra continues to work closely with the devolved administrations in delivering our shared ambitions to improve recycling outcomes in the UK.

The Government is developing a new Resources and Waste Strategy that will be published this year. This will set out the detail of how we will meet the ambitions for resources and waste that are set out in the Clean Growth Strategy, Industrial Strategy and the 25 Year Environment Plan.