Evaluation of a Digital Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)

Tender description

Welsh Government have made a commitment to the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drink containers in our strategy Beyond Recycling: a strategy to Make the circular economy in Wales a reality published in 2021. The First Minister confirmed this commitment at plenary session in the Senedd on the 22 June 2021.To tackle littering and to increase recycling rates further The Welsh Government is considering the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drink containers.The Welsh Ministers aims to appoint a supplier to project manage the evaluation and review of the technical challenges in implementing a Digital Return Scheme.From overseas examples it is known that deposit return schemes for drink containers (DRS) can result in high recycling rates (plus 90%) along with the collection of higher quality material and a reduction in littering.For a DRS to be successful in Wales therefore, any design and implementation must take into account our unique circumstances. Identifying the best solution for Wales means ensuring the development of a DRS scheme that will complement our existing waste collection and recycling system without generating any significant adverse outcomes.Digital technology when applied to a DRS is based around the unique coding of containers coupled with the ability to scan the code using smart phone applications that would allow for the electronic redemption of a deposit.This system has the potential to be more flexible in the location of deposit return points and could allow integration into existing kerbside collection systems – thereby allowing deposit return in the home as well as back to a fixed point such as a retailer.The contract and policy area is managed by the Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Division. It is required to further support the research and evaluation of such a digital system to determine if and how a full scale system could be implemented.