ACS outlines challenges facing c-stores ahead of the introduction of a deposit return scheme

ACS government relations director, Ed Woodall, told a meeting of the Tidy Britain All-Party Parliamentary Group how a well-designed deposit return scheme could work for the convenience sector.

Woodall said: “The all-in DRS system is the right approach, driven by the need for consistency across the UK to make the system as easy as possible for consumers and retailers to interact with. We are committed to helping the government deliver the best possible DRS system, but there is no hiding from the fact that the implementation of DRS in small retail outlets is a really big challenge.”

Woodall also outlined the challenges facing small stores when it comes to introducing a DRS that works for small stores – these include questions about how a scheme would work for the smallest stores that don’t have space to store containers, the increased pressure on staff to administer a scheme, and the cost of operating such a scheme.

The deposit return scheme in England and Wales has been delayed until 2024.