Have your say: Local Partnerships helps Wales shape its reuse future with new Deposit Return Scheme consultation

Your voice can help shape how Wales cuts waste and invests in reuse. The Welsh Government has launched a public consultation on a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) that supports the transition to reusable drink containers, ensuring sustainability is built into our everyday choices.

We want to hear from as many people as possible on the opportunities a DRS that includes reusable drinks containers presents. That could include reducing waste, improving local environments with less litter and the green jobs that could support local economies.

The consultation will gather feedback on how to create a DRS that integrates both single use and reusable containers. It builds on previous consultations held in 2019 and 2021 which covered the principles of a DRS and its design. 

In July, the Deputy First Minister for Wales followed up on his previous statements restating Wales’s position on glass being in scope of the scheme, and his call to work with industry and stakeholders on reuse being a critical part of Wales’s transition to a greener, more circular economy. 

This latest consultation follows up on that commitment to hear from all the people, whether you are a citizen (young or old), volunteer or a business, who wants to shape a DRS that integrates reusable drinks containers in Wales when it is launched in 2027.

Throughout the process, Local Partnerships has been supporting the Welsh Government’s DRS policy team on the design and implementation of the consultation. We will be continuing to provide support as the consultation concludes on 10 November 2025.

So please take time to share and respond to the consultation ahead of this deadline to make your voice heard on the future of DRS and reuse in Wales.

The Zero Waste team at Local Partnerships provides expert technical support to national governments on future policy development and delivery. If you are interested to hear more about our work in this space, then please get in touch.