Respond to the Welsh Deposit Return Scheme Consultation
The Welsh Government is consulting on how to deliver a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) that truly works for people and planet and we need your voice.
A DRS adds a small refundable deposit to drink containers (like cans, glass, and plastic bottles), which you get back when you return them. It’s one of the most effective tools we have to tackle plastic pollution, reduce litter, and create a circular economy.
But how this system is designed will decide whether it’s a genuine step forward — or just another missed opportunity. That’s why Surfers Against Sewage is calling for an ambitious, all-in Welsh DRS that includes every container, prioritises reuse, and helps drive down plastic production at the source.
Here’s your step-by-step guide to respond to the DRS consultation:
1. Know the basics
Consultation title: Delivering a Best for Wales Deposit Return Scheme
Closes: 20th November 2025
How to respond: Submit online through the Welsh Government consultation portal Delivering a Best for Wales Deposit Return Scheme or by email/post (details on the consultation page).
2. What we’re calling for
Our response focuses on three key asks to make sure the Welsh DRS truly turns the tide on plastic pollution:
♻️ All-in from the start: Include glass, plastic and cans, regardless of size or producer. Exemptions weaken the system and cause confusion.
🔁 Reuse at the heart: Set legally binding reuse targets and invest in refill systems so we move beyond single-use.
🧩 Part of a bigger plan: Embed DRS within a National Action Plan to end plastic pollution, alongside measures to cut production and consumption.
Wales has led the world on recycling — now it’s time to lead on reuse and reduction.
3. Why this matters — the evidence
Despite Wales being one of the best recyclers in the world, plastic production is still rising — projected to double globally by 2040 (OECD, 2023).
The scale of the problem is clear. Million Mile Clean data from January – September (MMC) reveals:
- 5,077 cleans
- 121,674 volunteers taking part
- 250,057 miles covered
- 54,074 kilograms of rubbish collected
That’s more than 54 tonnes of waste removed by volunteers in a single year — much of it bottles, cans and packaging that a well-designed DRS could have prevented.
While community clean-ups are inspiring, they shouldn’t have to be our frontline defence against pollution. The system needs to stop waste at the source.
“Without bold policy change, we’ll keep cleaning beaches instead of preventing waste from reaching them.”
4. Why DRS is essential — but only part of the puzzle
A DRS is a vital step toward a circular economy but it’s only one piece of the puzzle.
Even the best deposit system can’t solve the overproduction of plastic. Globally, just 10 companies are responsible for over half of branded plastic pollution (Break Free From Plastic, 2023). Unless we cut plastic at the tap, we’ll keep chasing waste downstream.
To create real change, the Welsh Government must also:
🚫 Cap plastic production and limit single-use packaging placed on the market
🧃 Support reusable and refillable systems with grants, infrastructure and innovation funding
🧴 Ban unnecessary single-use plastics, following the lead of the EU and Scotland
📈 Mandate reuse targets for producers and retailers — driving a shift from disposable to durable systems
A DRS can be the foundation, but it must sit within a broader national plan to reduce plastic production and consumption.
5. How to structure your response
The consultation includes many questions — but you don’t need to answer them all. Focus on the ones that matter most to you.
Below are key questions and example points to include (in your own words!) 👇
Q1: Should glass be included?
Say YES.
Leaving glass out creates confusion and more litter. Glass bottles are a major source of beach and roadside pollution — and every world-class DRS includes them.
Q2–4: Should there be reuse targets, and how should they work?
Say YES to legally binding reuse targets — with separate goals for glass, plastic and cans.
Reuse saves energy, cuts waste, and reduces emissions far more than recycling.
Suggested targets:
- 10% reuse by 2031
- 30% by 2035
- 50% by 2040
Q5–6: Should recycling and reuse targets be combined?
Say NO.
Reuse and recycling must have separate targets. Combining them lets companies rely on single-use packaging and still claim progress.
Q7: Should reuse targets increase gradually?
Say YES — over 5-year phases.
This allows time to build infrastructure while maintaining pressure on industry.
Q8: Should glass bottles be phased in later?
Say NO — include glass from the start.
Q9: Should the scheme expand to cover more drinks and containers?
Say YES.
Include cartons, milk, juice and alcoholic drinks — the material matters, not the contents.
Q10–11: Supporting reuse
Say YES to lower fees for reusables, limits on single-use, and minimum reuse thresholds (10+ cycles for PET, 25+ for glass).
Reuse should be rewarded, not penalised.
Q16 & 21: Role of charities and communities
Say YES — the third sector must be involved.
Groups like Surfers Against Sewage already collect thousands of bottles and cans through the Million Mile Clean. In 2025 alone, volunteers covered 250,000 miles cleaning up waste that shouldn’t be there in the first place.
A strong DRS should:
- Allow community groups to return found containers for refunds
- Support education and engagement through programmes like Ocean School
- Recognise community efforts as part of Wales’ circular economy success
Q19–20: Benefits for Wales and SMEs
Say YES — design the scheme to create green jobs and support small businesses.
A well-run DRS could create over 500 new jobs in logistics, sorting, and reuse infrastructure (Zero Waste Scotland, 2023).
Q26: Anything else to add?
Say that DRS must sit within a legally binding National Action Plan to end plastic pollution by 2040.
Wales must go beyond recycling and DRS alone — tackling the root cause of plastic waste: overproduction and overconsumption.
6. Use your voice
Write your response in your own words — personal stories and local experiences are powerful. You could mention:
- How often you find bottles or cans on your local beach, park, or riverbank
- How you’ve joined clean-ups or Plastic Free Communities
- Why you want Wales to be a leader in reuse and reduction
Even short submissions make a difference — especially when thousands of us speak up together.
Start your consultation response
7. Share and spread the word
Once you’ve responded, encourage friends, family, and your community to do the same.
Tag us and use #EndPlasticPollution and #DRSforWales to join the movement.
Together, we can make sure Wales delivers a world-class DRS and goes further to tackle plastic production, empower communities, and protect our beaches, rivers and wildlife for generations to come.
Let’s turn the tide — submit your consultation response today. Every voice matters.
References:
Welsh Government – Consultations Portal
Official site for submitting responses to the DRS consultation. https://www.gov.wales/consultations
Surfers Against Sewage – 2025 (Unpublished Beach Clean data, Jan-Sept)
Annual data on litter collected through the Million Mile Clean (MMC)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – Global Plastics Outlook: Policy Scenarios to 2060 (2023)
Forecast showing global plastic production set to double by 2040 without stronger action. https://www.oecd.org/environment/global-plastics-outlook-policy-scenarios-to-2060-9789264444541-en.htm
Break Free From Plastic – Global Brand Audit Report (2023)
Report identifying the world’s top corporate plastic polluters, showing that 10 companies are responsible for over half of branded plastic waste. https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/globalbrandauditreport2023/
WRAP – Plastic Packaging and Recycling Data (UK, 2024)
UK Plastics Pact progress updates showing recycling and reuse trends across the UK, including Wales.
https://wrap.org.uk/resources/report/the-uk-plastics-pact-annual-report-2024
Zero Waste Scotland – Deposit Return Scheme Impact Assessments (2023)
Analysis of the Scottish DRS showing potential to create 500+ green jobs in logistics, sorting, and reuse.
https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/resources/deposit-return-scheme-impact
European Commission – Circular Economy Action Plan (2020)
Sets reuse and refill goals aligned with EU circular economy targets.
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/circular-economy-action-plan_en
Surfers Against Sewage – Million Mile Clean Campaign
National volunteer clean-up programme referenced in the blog.
https://www.sas.org.uk/our-work/million-mile-clean/
BBC News – Scotland Deposit Return Scheme: Timeline and Challenges (2023)
Coverage of delays and lessons learned from Scotland’s DRS rollout.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65392258
Zero Waste Europe – Reuse Systems in France and Europe (2021)
Review of voluntary vs mandatory reuse schemes and their effectiveness.
https://zerowasteeurope.eu/library/reuse-systems-good-practices-and-policy-recommendations/