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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps with her counterparts in the devolved Administrations to agree a UK-wide approach to glass bottles in deposit return schemes.

UK Government believe it is essential that all Deposit Return Schemes for drinks containers across the UK are interoperable.

This includes having aligned materials in scope across the UK. The UK Government oppose inclusion of glass in DRS. The inclusion of glass would add cost and complexity to the schemes, particularly to hospitality and retail sectors, as well as adding consumer inconvenience. We received strong representations from relevant businesses, including distillers and the hospitality sector, about the impact on trade and in particular consumer choice created by permanently different arrangements on glass within the UK internal market.

We want to ensure that the schemes operate seamlessly for businesses and consumers across the UK and do not create unnecessary barriers to trade. Defra is working closely with devolved administrations at pace on the next steps.