The Fed Joins Calls for Fresh Approach to Deposit Return Scheme in Wales

The Fed has collaborated with other retail representatives, drinks manufacturers, and hospitality bodies urging a fresh approach on the Deposit Return Scheme in Wales.

Along with the Fed’s National President, the letter was signed by the British Retail Consortium, the British Soft Drinks Association, the British Beer and Pub Association, UKHospitality, The Food and Drink Federation and more – in total they represent 9,0000 businesses across the Welsh economy.

In particular, the Fed has repeated its call – made in the recent manifesto we announced for the Welsh election – for the Welsh Government to reassess the inclusion of glass in DRS, which the Fed thinks might make the scheme more difficult for small shops to participate in.

The joint letter specifically calls for a Return Scheme administrator to be implemented before the Senedd elections in May 2026 and the Welsh Government to “proceed with caution” on its inclusion of glass.

The Fed has had a series of meetings with Welsh politicians ahead of the election, most recently with Conservative Sam Kurtz and Labour’s Marc Tierney, both in Pembrokeshire, as well as meetings in Cardiff.