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- Unanimous support for introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers in Wales.
- Scotland will introduce a scheme in July 2022; delays in Wales are blamed on the Welsh Government’s desire to work with the UK Government instead of doing it themselves.
- Wales will have formal powers over waste-related charging in the UK Environment Bill, but the UK Internal Market Bill presents complications.
The latest proposal for a future member’s bill came from Janet Finch-Saunders MS (Con, Aberconwy) with backing from Llyr Gruffydd MS (Plaid, North Wales)
The proposal is for a law that would introduce a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and place a duty on the Welsh Government to publish an annual report on the effectiveness of policies to reduce recyclable waste.
A deposit return scheme has been cited as one way to cut single-use plastics because people would lose their deposit on the drinks container (in other countries it’s usually the equivalent of 10-20p) if they didn’t return them.
Janet Finch-Saunders said plastic bottles and caps were amongst the most common forms of waste found on Welsh beaches. Scotland will be introducing a deposit return scheme in July 2022, but despite Labour interest, there’ve been delays in Wales.
Llyr Gruffydd also was annoyed by the delay, blaming the Welsh Government’s desire to work with the UK Government – which has slowed the process down. Unspecified evidence has shown that deposit return is the most effective means of cutting drinks-related waste.
Alun Davies MS (Lab, Blaenau Gwent) believed it was right for the Welsh Government to accept responsibility for the problem “instead of waiting for the Tories to do something”, while David Rowlands MS (Ind, South Wales East) called for any future deposit to be set at a relatively high level – 25p – as people may not be persuaded by a low (i.e. 5p) deposit.
Suzy Davies MS (Con, South Wales West) thought it was unfair to blame the UK Government for a delay when this is well within the Welsh Government’s remit. While Wales’ recycling record was good, we need to consider the use of the recycled material as much as boosting recycling itself.
Several members mentioned the potential to cut fly-tipping and general littering if people were to get an instant, albeit modest, financial penalty for doing so.
Environment, Energy & Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths (Lab, Wrexham), said Wales’ recycling rate was more than 60% and well on the way to the desired zero-waste rate by 2050.
The government were already taking steps to deal with single-use plastic waste and she confirmed that the Senedd will have the power to charge for single-use plastics (to discourage their use or encourage recycling) through the UK Environment Bill.
She didn’t believe a separate law will be necessary once that Bill passes, but warned that the controversial UK Internal Market Bill means Wales could be tied to the lowest UK standards regardless of what the Senedd would like to do.
