The Fed Continues call for Faster Application of DRS in Wales

The Fed’s President in Wales, Mark Dudden, has added his voice to calls for faster action implementing a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for recycling in Wales and for the adoption of a Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) which can administer it.

With the Welsh Senedd election due next week, the Fed has written to the current Government Minister responsible, Huw Irranca-Davies and his officials urging the appointment of a DMO which can administer the scheme and deal with the various technical questions involved in implementing DRS. The sole applicant for the DMO, Exchange for Change, was rejected in its application earlier in April and the new application process will carry on until June.

Mark Dudden commented: “The Fed has actively engaged in the implementation of DRS, serving on the Advisory Board of the DMO covering the rest of the UK, but we feel for it to work it must have full interoperability with the rest of Britain and Northern Ireland.

“As we have also made clear in our manifesto for the election, launched in January, the Fed also has concerns that adding glass to the mix will make it hard for small shops – and ultimately make the best the enemy of the good, undermining the Welsh scheme as a whole. Whoever takes on responsibility for running it, we hope a new DMO can be put in place as soon as possible to ensure clear communication and support for Welsh retailers when DRS is launched in just less than 18 months.”