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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • Closed consultation Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

    Topics:
    • Extended Producer Responsibility

    Consultation closed Consultation opened 24 March 2021, 12.00 pm and closed 4 June 2021, 11.59 pm

    Summary

    This consultation is now closed.
    The Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs (DAERA) is seeking views on plans to introduce Deposit Return Scheme in Northern Ireland alongside, England and Wales. This consultation will run in tandem with the consultation on proposals to introduce Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging in the UK alongside England, Scotland, and Wales.

    Documents

    • 2021 DRS Consultation Adobe PDF (882 KB)
    • 2021 DRS Consultation Impact Assessment Adobe PDF (1 MB)

    Help viewing documents

    Consultation description

    We want to know what you think about our plans to introduce the Deposit Return Scheme.

    This will mean that consumers are charged a deposit up-front when they buy a drink in a container that is in scope of the scheme. The deposit can then be redeemed when the empty container is returned to a designated return point. The deposit provides a financial incentive for consumers to return drinks containers for recycling. The objectives of this system include boosting recycling levels, reducing littering, and offering greater opportunities to collect higher quality, uncontaminated materials in greater quantities thus promoting a circular economy.

    We want to know what you think about proposals on how the new scheme will operate, including:

    • System design
    • System governance
    • Implementation timelines
    • How the system will be enforced

    We are seeking views from across the industry, as well as members of the public, on how the scheme will function to ensure it achieves the desired outcomes. Responses to this consultation will help inform final policy decisions on key aspects of the scheme, such as governance, recycling targets and implementation timelines.

    Deposit Return Scheme – Summary of 2021 consultation responses and publication of government response

    Ways to respond

    Consultation closed — responses are no longer being accepted.

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