The Fed attends Exchange for Change event marking less than a year to go on DRS

(Pictured: Emma Hardy MP, Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, speaking about the potential of DRS and the role of retailers and other key industry stakeholders in getting it off the ground)

 The Fed joined DEFRA minister Emma Hardy MP and representatives from retail, government, the drinks industry, the recycling sector and more, 346 days before the deposit return scheme (DRS) goes live on October 1 2027, in an event organised by the Scheme’s administrator, Exchange for Change, in central London on Monday 19th October.

(The clock is ticking and there is less than a year before DRS is due to go live)

The event, at the Londoner Ballroom at Leicester Square, came as the Fed continues its push to encourage independent retailers to engage with DRS – which promises to represent a seismic event in the history of British retail – before it goes live next year.

Ms Hardy thanked stakeholders from across the economy for their support for the project and spoke about its potentially transformational impact on recycling. Also speaking were Exchange for Change’s chairman John Bason, as well as its chief executive Russell Davies, who revealed a count down clock indicating there was just over 346 days before the scheme goes live.

Earlier this month, Fed National President Hemanshu Patel said that he was registering his business for DRS . The Fed also launched its DRS Knowledge Hub on its members’ website.

(The Fed’s Political Engagement Coordinator, Doug Oliver, at the event)

The Fed was represented at the event by Political Engagement coordinator Douglas Oliver, who said: “It was a very positive evening and evidence of the important collaborative work that is going on to ensure DRS is a success. The Fed has been calling on Exchange for Change to make DRS as easy as possible and cost-neutral for small shops because they will be key to the Scheme’s success after 2027. We will continue to ensure the voice of independent retailers is heard in the coming months.”