Glass deposit operator appointed after months of wrangling

Gruffydd said: “The scheme will include plastic (PET), metal and glass drinks containers from day one, but in line with the Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (Wales) Regulations 2026, a four-year transition period will apply to glass drinks containers, during which glass drinks containers will be exempt from labelling requirements and carry a zero pence deposit.”

He added the DRS would “tackle litter while supporting the collection of high-quality recycled materials” and would “help provide a pathway towards the roll-out of reuseable drinks containers” in Wales.

The drinks industry welcomed the appointment of Exchange for Change, which was “a crucial milestone in delivering a successful DRS by October 2027” according to British Soft Drinks Association director general Andy Bagnall.

Bagnall warned that preparations were “already well advanced for launching the DRS in October 2027 for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland”, and “delivering the scheme in Wales within such a short timeframe means there can be no further delays”.

He said the Welsh government’s decision “to include glass from day one also creates significant additional operational complexity” and called on ministers to be “realistic about what’s possible” before launching.

Exchange for Change called it an “important milestone” that would help deliver an “effective and efficient scheme”.

The company said the DRS was a “transformational opportunity to change how we manage waste in the UK”, adding it was “looking forward to working closely with the Welsh government to take the scheme forward”.