26 March 2026: Jason Galley, director and chief executive of MPMA, responds to the Welsh Parliament (Senedd Cymru) voting in favour of the Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (Wales) Regulations 2026 which underpins the Welsh Deposit Return Scheme.
“The passing of the Deposit Return Scheme regulations by the Welsh Senedd marks an important milestone for UK circularity. While this now provides certainty there are key areas to be resolved including the plans for refill, how interoperability will work across different materials and of course ensuring a variable deposit to not distort the market towards larger plastic containers and away from right-sized containers like cans that support portion control and reduced waste. The swift appointment of a Deposit Management Organisation to manage the scheme’s complexity should help to move through these challenges.
“The aluminium beverage can’s ability to be recycled endlessly means it’s a recycling superhero. A well‑designed Deposit Return Scheme presents a significant opportunity to fully harness the inherent circularity of the aluminium beverage can and MPMA and our members will continue to work in close partnership with governments and Deposit Management Organisations to realise the delivery of interoperable schemes.”