Wales to form own deposit return scheme - after glass bottles sparked row

Wales will press ahead with its own deposit return scheme as it looks to include glass bottles, the Welsh government has announced.

Talks had been ongoing between the UK government and devolved administrations to establish the schemes in conjunction with one another.

Under the plan, which has already been introduced in several European countries, customers receive some money back for returning empty bottles.

The Welsh government had always maintained its intention was to include glass bottles as part of the scheme.

But the previous UK Conservative government ruled glass could not be included due to the Internal Market Act 2020.

The Scottish government's scheme was delayed until at least October 2025 as a result, with then first minister Humza Yousaf warning the UK government was "in danger of sinking this scheme in its entirety".

Due to the position "inherited" by the Labour UK government, the Welsh government announced on Monday it would now press ahead with its own plan.

All four governments had previously issued a joint policy statement to facilitate "interoperable schemes across the UK".

Deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who holds responsibility for climate change and rural affairs, said the Welsh government had been "working to initiate a joint process" with the UK's other governments.

"However, in the time available it has not been possible to address the issues to the operation of devolution caused by the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, inherited by the UK Government from the previous administration," he said.

"This unfortunately means that we are not able to proceed with the joint process or notify the WTO (World Trade Organisation) in relation to the scheme at this point."

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