ADEPT urges Government to pause Deposit Return Scheme rollout

The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) is calling on the Government to pause the rollout of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers and carry out a full review of its cost impact on local authorities.

Backing concerns raised by LARAC and independent materials recovery facility operators, ADEPT wants a new impact assessment based on current evidence, funding to cover councils’ lost income and extra costs, a formal monitoring role for local authorities, and clarity on how DRS will interact with Extended Producer Responsibility and Simpler Recycling.

Wendy Barratt, Chair of ADEPT’s Waste Working Group, said: ‘Local authorities already have well established kerbside collections and sorting facilities that capture drinks containers effectively. The cost of rolling out DRS is high and would largely duplicate a system that is already in place. Taxpayers risk paying twice: once through deposits – some of which will never be redeemed – and again for the systems that local authorities have put in place to collect and sort these items.’

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