Extract from DEFRA questions: Deposit Return Schemes: Digital Technology - Jan 12

Wera Hobhouse (Bath) (LD)
13. If her Department will take steps to support trials of digital deposit return scheme technologies.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Rebecca Pow)
We recognise the benefits of a digital DRS. Many trials are being run; I am very encouraged by the results, and my officials and I will be looking closely at them. Once a deposit management organisation has been appointed to run the DRS alongside industry, it will be decided whether to introduce digital solutions to the scheme in future. We will be watching with a weather eye.

Wera Hobhouse
I am pleased that the Minister recognises the possible advantages of a digital deposit return scheme, which, according to Resource Futures, could reduce the cost of the current scheme by £3.3 billion. We were promised a response to the latest DRS consultation, but it has still not been published. Will the Minister tell us when we can expect a response?

Rebecca Pow
Further details of the deposit return scheme, which will be so important to reducing waste, will be announced and published later this month.