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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing safeguards to prevent glass producers switching to polyethylene terephthalate due to the higher costs associated with reverse vending machines filled with glass.

The Government is keen to avoid any unintended consequences. An Impact Assessment will be published alongside the second consultation which assesses the costs and benefits of a deposit return scheme (DRS), including the costs to business, and covers the wider environmental impacts of implementing a DRS. We are continuing to consult with stakeholders to advise us on any unintended consequences.

The Government’s commitment to introducing a DRS is part of its commitments to reform producer responsibility systems to incentivise producers to take greater responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products. The set up and operational costs of a DRS will be met through producer fees, paid by producers of drinks containers in-scope of a DRS and material revenue from recycling returned drinks containers. We have also sought views regarding whether unredeemed deposits should be used to part fund the system.