Wales appoints Exchange for Change to manage Deposit Return Scheme

The Welsh Government has appointed Exchange for Change as the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) for Wales’ forthcoming Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), ahead of rollout in all four UK nations in October 2027.

Exchange for Change will now act as the scheme administrator across all four UK nations, a positive step toward operability across the systems.

In a written statement issued on 20 August, Welsh Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, Llŷr Gruffydd, confirmed that the appointment followed a procurement process to identify an organisation capable of supporting the establishment and delivery of the Welsh scheme.

Exchange for Change, a business-led not-for-profit organisation, will work with producers, retailers, local authorities and other partners to develop the return network, collection and processing infrastructure, producer registration arrangements and operational systems ahead of implementation.

Glass still included

Whilst Wales is required to include PET plastic and metal drinks containers by next year with the rest of the UK, they are still committed to additionally including glass drinks packaging. A four-year transition period will apply to glass containers and during this period they will carry a zero-pence deposit and will be exempt from labelling requirements.

While stakeholders have welcomed the appointment of a single administrator, some organisations have highlighted the need for greater clarity on how the Welsh approach to glass will operate in practice. For instance, it’s unclear whether consumers in Wales will actually return glass drinks packaging to designated return points, because there will be no financial incentive and no labelling telling them to do so.

Industry calls for clarity

The Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA) welcomed the appointment of a single administrator across all four nations, describing it as a step towards the consistency businesses have been seeking. However, it noted that significant operational detail still needs to be finalised before implementation.

British Glass similarly also acknowledged progress towards implementation but questioned how the inclusion of glass with a zero-pence deposit would influence consumer behaviour, arguing that further discussion is needed to ensure the final scheme delivers the intended environmental outcomes.

What happens next?

The Welsh Government has said it will work closely with Exchange for Change and delivery partners to establish the infrastructure and operational arrangements needed to launch the scheme in October 2027. Areas of development include the return network, collection and processing systems, producer registration processes and wider operational requirements.

Obligated producers and other stakeholders should watch closely for further detail on scheme operations, interoperability across the UK, and the practical implications of Wales’ decision to include glass within scope.

If you want to know more about how you're impacted by the DRS, or have any questions please contact us at info@ecosurety.com.