Wales Confirms 2027 DRS Launch – But Glass Remains In Scope

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Dan Pegram

Published: 18/07/2025

Following its departure from the joint UK Deposit Return Scheme, Wales now plans to go live in October 2027 alongside England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Back in our previous blog, we reported on Wales exiting the UK’s joint Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) process. At the time, the Welsh government had suggested it would take its own path, potentially delaying the introduction of a national DRS beyond 2027. Now, that’s changed.

Wales to Align with 2027 UK DRS Rollout

On 10 July 2025, the Welsh Government announced that its DRS will now launch in October 2027, in line with the rest of the UK. The move is designed to reduce operational complexity and ensure consistency for producers, retailers, and recyclers.

But there’s a key difference:
Wales will include glass in its scheme – unlike England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. your activity, the more you’ll pay.

Why Is Wales Still Including Glass?

According to Huw Irranca-Davies, Welsh Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, the exclusion of glass from the rest of the UK’s DRS was a major point of divergence. He stated:

“This is not a situation of the Welsh Government’s making… it stems directly from decisions taken by the previous UK government to depart from the agreed approach of a DRS that included glass.”

Glass has historically been a key part of Wales’ high recycling rates, and keeping it in the scheme aligns with their wider sustainability goals.

Phased Approach & Business Support

To ease the transition, the Welsh government is adopting a phased rollout. This is aimed at reducing disruption to existing production and labelling processes, while preventing fraud and confusion between devolved nations.

SMEs will be considered too. Irranca-Davies pledged that there will be “sensible arrangements” such as exemptions for low-volume products.

What Does This Mean for Businesses?

If your business operates across the UK, the good news is that all nations will now implement DRS at the same time. This alignment could help streamline logistics, reduce compliance confusion, and cut costs related to separate rollout timelines.

However, the inclusion of glass in Wales will still require separate planning for businesses operating there – particularly for labelling, product design, and recycling compliance.

Stay Ahead with Flame UK

At Flame UK, we help businesses stay compliant and cost-efficient when new waste and recycling regulations are introduced. Whether you’re managing packaging waste, preparing for DRS, or exploring more sustainable solutions, we’re here to guide you through it.