Deposit Management Organisation (DMO)

Your organisation must be an independent, not-for-profit, private body.

You will have obligations and powers under the DRS regulations, The Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (Wales) Regulations 2026. The DMO will be responsible for:

• managing the DRS in Wales, including oversight of the material and financial flows
• producing and publishing technical information to assist Welsh businesses in preparing for the DRS
• engaging with industry to ensure DRS information is easily accessible
• communicating with consumers about their role in the DRS
• developing a simple, user friendly process for consumers to raise queries about DRS
• ensuring compliance with the operational plan

If you’re interested in becoming the DMO, please submit a completed form and any accompanying documents to the Welsh Government DRS team wg.drsprogramme@gov.wales  

Please return the completed application form to us by 23 January 2025. 

We reserve the right to extend the time frame for applications.

The application pack includes:

• an application form
• a guidance document to assist with completing the operational and business plans

Your application will be evaluated fairly based on its merits and the alignment of your organisation with the requirement of the appointment as the DMO. This includes how you will:

• meet your responsibilities under each of the regulations
• establish the scheme in Wales

Following an initial assessment of applications, we may request additional information from you. We will then score applications based on a standardised scoring system which allows for comparison if we receive several applications.

We will use the score to support a recommendation to Welsh Government Ministers about the DMO appointment.

The scheme will introduce a refundable deposit on drink containers. Its aim is to:

• Reduce litter and improve the cleanliness of streets, parks, and public spaces across Wales.
• Establish a robust collection mechanism for in-scope materials, ensuring high capture rates and supporting a circular economy.
• Create a reuse pathway and actively promote the development and increased use of reusable drink containers, reducing reliance on single-use packaging.
• Deliver environmental benefits for Wales, including lower carbon emissions, reduced resource consumption, and improved recycling quality.
• Support Wales’ zero-waste and climate objectives, contributing to the Well-being of Future Generations Act by fostering sustainable consumption and production.
• Engage communities and businesses, creating opportunities for innovation, green jobs, and local economic benefits.
• Enhance Wales’ reputation as a global leader in recycling and resource efficiency, aligning with national strategies and international commitments.

The scheme will include drinks containers from 150ml to 3 litres made from any of the following:

• glass
• polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic
• steel
• aluminium

Current recycling rates in the UK for containers in scope of the DRS are around 70% which leaves approximately 4bn plastic bottles, 2.7bn cans and 1.5bn glass bottles not recycled every year.

When drinks containers go to landfill or are sent for incineration, they release polluting greenhouse gases. The materials are lost, so new containers must be made from virgin materials. The extraction of these virgin materials also generates polluting emissions.  

Once the scheme is introduced, we expect to collect at least 90% of in-scope drinks containers by year 3. This will boost recycling rates and reduce littering.

The scheme will also result in cleaner recycled materials. This will mean drinks containers can be remade into more drink containers. DMOs will have first refusal to reuse any collected drinks containers.

Working with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Local Authority Trading Standards services teams, the Welsh Government’s role has involved developing the regulations for the DRS and to appoint the DMO.

Moving forward Welsh Government will oversee and manage scheme performance and NRW will manage compliance and enforcement of The Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (Wales) Regulations 2026.

Welsh Government, NRW and LA Trading Standards services teams are all responsible for answering questions on legal definitions and details about the regulations. They are also responsible for supporting the successful establishment of the scheme by the DMO.