Written question asked by John Milne (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 27 February 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 3 March 2026. It was answered by Mary Creagh (Labour) on Thursday, 5 March 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Deposit Return Schemes: Rural Areas

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that exemption arrangements under the Deposit Return Scheme are accessible to rural retailers.

Answer

The regulations set out rules requiring all grocery retailers that sell drinks that are included in the scheme to host a return point, unless they qualify for an exemption.

Retailers, including those in rural communities, will be able to apply to the deposit management organisation, Exchange for Change, for an exemption to operating a return point on their premises if they qualify under the relevant criteria. These include being in close proximity to another return point or not having suitable premises for operating a return point safely.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 116666
Session: 2024-26
Subjects: Exemptions Rural areas Retail trade Deposit return schemes
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Deposit Return Schemes: Rural Areas

Secondary information

Librarians' tools