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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what advice Public Health England has given on the introduction of a deposit returns scheme following the covid-19 outbreak on the (a) manual handling of scheme materials, and (b) the operation of reverse vending machines; and if he will make a statement.

The Government committed in its manifesto to introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers. Since consulting on its introduction in 2019, we have been developing proposals for a DRS using further evidence and ongoing engagement with stakeholders. We are liaising with Public Health England (PHE) to consider any impact that Covid-19 may have on the development of a DRS for drinks containers. Advice from PHE will be considered in the development of proposals, which will be presented in a second consultation in early 2021.