Sonya Hook caught up with Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, who recently – and not for the first time – secured the top spot on DR’s Top 100 Most Influential people in the industry. Naturally the conversation focused on the ‘green taxes’ of EPR and DRS, as well as packaging formats and a reminder of some words of…

EcoVend by Reconomy said its reverse vending machines (RVMs) saw strong public engagement at this summer’s British Grand Prix.  Designed to encourage recycling, the machines allow users to exchange empty beverage containers for a digital credit, coupon or charitable donation.  According to the circular economy company, the machines gave spectators at the Grand Prix an opportunity to experience how the UK’s Deposit Return…

The WSTA has joined forces with UK Hospitality, British Glass, Scotch Whisky Association, National Association of Cider-Makers and other alcohol sector trade bodies to warn Welsh decision makers that they could be heading towards “the same cul de sac as the failed Scottish DRS”, unless urgent action is taken to remove glass in full, and appoint a Deposit Management Organisation (DMO). In a letter to the First Minister, the consortium of trade bodies, retail…

Several grocery retailers and drinks manufacturers have co-signed a letter to the Welsh Government, urging it to keep the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) on track.  Addressed to the new first minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, the group said it was looking forward to working closely with him on the DRS.  “We recognise that your government has inherited significant delays to the process…

The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has written to senior figures in the Welsh Government, expressing concerns about the lack of progress in moving forward with the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).  The president of The Fed in Wales, Mark Dudden, said that Wales is failing to keep pace with the rest of the UK on the initiative, which was created to boost…

Exchange for Change has confirmed the fees retailers will receive for collecting drinks containers under the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), with payments ranging from 3p per container for manual returns to 5p for reverse vending machine collections. Exchange for Change, the administrator tasked with rolling out the scheme, has confirmed that return handling fees (RHFs) will be paid on a tiered…

The UK Government has confirmed that Wales will be allowed to include glass in its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), despite criticism from some parts of the trade.  The scheme will launch alongside the wider UK system in October 2027, running parallel to the DRS programmes in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, none of which include glass.  In a statement published yesterday,…