Lee Marshall, Director of Innovation and Technical Services
The new (can we still say that) Government appears to have started 2025 as it ended 2024 with a continued push to progress waste policy implementation. The statutory instrument for DRS was passed and Defra restated the intention to appoint the DMO by April this year, the tender process having already started before Christmas.
CIWM has had a stance on DRS of 'pause and reflect', suggesting that Simpler Recycling (do we still call it that?) and packaging EPR should be fully implemented and given time to see what results they bring before we then reconsider the need for DRS. Such a pause would also have the benefit of allowing time to further test the digital DRS collection options and related software, as utilising the existing kerbside collection infrastructure has a lot of potential benefits, not least being by far the most cost effective collection system for UK plc.
Now that we are this far down the line though it is probably a case of seeing it through and trying to make it work as well as possible. This government is suffering from the delays in implementation that the previous Government incurred, and so confidence in deliver of waste policy is understandably shaky and needs rebuilding. So despite what some retailing organisations are assaying, we now probably need to see DRS put in by the October 2027 date Defra are saying.
One policy that has been delayed is a review and revision of the WEEE regulations. Had this have happened yet then it would be an area that CIWM would be advocating bringing in a DRS – on batteries. We know in the sector the real issue inappropriate disposal of batteries is causing and it’s something that need more policy intervention, although the forthcoming ban on disposable vapes is a good start.
The CIWM report, An EPR of Everything, Starting with Batteries was published last year and one of the recommendations coming from it was that DRS should be applied to batteries and battery containing products (electric toothbrush being a good example). This was backed up by consumer research done for the report that showed the public supported a DRS on batteries as a way to ensure they were sent to the correct route. The report stated that “deposits, as part of a wider EPR scheme, drive attitudes, behaviours, and cultures, both of consumers and of manufacturers and retailers.”
The research also showed that consumers are not currently using the correct disposal routes for batteries, and particularly items with batteries in. So 25% of people put electric toothbrushes in the residual bin, the same with rechargeable vapes. The potential consequences of this are far more dire compared to someone putting plastics in the residual bin or pizza boxes in with the other cardboard.
So yes, DRS for packaging is progressing and probably needs the sector to get behind it. But far more impactful, for consumers, the sector and resource resilience would be to see DRS placed on batteries. The revision of the WEEE regulations seems to have been forgotten with all the focus on the packaging reforms but they still need to happen and it would be good for the sector and the safety of those working in if that review came forward soon. And when it does then we can push for a DRS on batteries.