Delay to bottle recycling scheme is a ‘slap in the face’

A FLAGSHIP recycling scheme will not be introduced until late 2027, the Government has said.

Campaigners reacted angrily to the news that the long-planned deposit return scheme for drinks containers would not be brought in across the UK for another three years, in October 2027, and will not include glass bottles.

The scheme, which would see consumers recoup a small deposit when they return single-use bottles and cans, has been in development in the Environment Department (Defra) since 2017 and was part of the 2019 Tory manifesto.

Its anticipated launch date has already been delayed from late 2024 to October 2025, after the scheme faced heavy criticism from some in the drinks industry, and Environment Secretary Steve Barclay suggested last month launching it then was not realistic.

Mr Barclay said including glass would “create undue complexity for the drinks industry and it increases storage and handling costs for retailers”.

Setting the start date for the scheme in October 2027, he said the previous goal of October 2025 was a “stretching target date” and additional time “will be needed to efficiently and effectively roll out the schemes across the UK”.

But anti-litter charity Keep Britain Tidy described the delay as “nothing short of disastrous for the environment and a slap in the face for anyone who cares about the state of litter in this country”.

The charity’s chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton, said: “This is our chance to tackle the drinks litter that makes up more than 70% of litter by volume in this country at the same time as dramatically improving recycling, and all without leaving the taxpayer out of pocket.

“This delay means oceans of bottles and cans will continue to needlessly pile up in bins and continue to be strewn on roadsides and in our green spaces.”