The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, together with the UK and Welsh Government are currently seeking views on proposals to introduce a deposit return scheme for drink containers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This would include drink containers such as:

• glass bottles
• plastic bottles
• cans

The cost of the deposit would be added to the price of the drinks included in the scheme when they are purchased. The deposit would be redeemed when consumers return their empty drinks containers to a designated return point. It is anticipated, that if introduced, a deposit return scheme will increase recycling and reduce littering of drinks containers included in the scheme. The consultation is primarily aimed at:

• Businesses that produce, sell or import drinks in single use containers
• Organisations involved in the management and recycling of packaging waste
• Packaging compliance schemes
• Other organisations who have an interest in packaging and how packaging waste is managed in the UK
• The public

This current consultation closes on 13 May 2019

You can access the consultation and associated information here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environment/introducing-a-deposit-return-scheme/