The Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy and the Shadow Minister for Climate Change – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has today used the first Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee meeting of the Sixth Senedd to clinch a commitment from the Welsh Government that it will introduce an ‘all-in’ deposit return scheme.
This latest commitment comes after Janet previously secured an Autumn deadline to introduce Welsh DRS legislation, with the Welsh Government collaborating with UK partners to make the scheme as interoperable as possible. Janet also asked for clarity around the Welsh Government’s decision to press ahead with using the UK Bill to legislate on the Environment, despite previous commitments to introduce their own Welsh Environment Bill in this Senedd term.
Commenting on the meeting, Janet said:
“I was most pleased to attend our first CCEI Committee meeting, as I have been readily looking forward to working alongside other knowledgeable members to bring a focus to those policies which are tackling the defining issue of our time – the climate and nature crises.
“This was an important meeting to scrutinise the Welsh Government’s plans, with regards to the UK Environment Bill. Whilst this session brought much strategic clarity as to the introduction of future policy, I am also delighted that we were able to fix down further commitments on how to address the modern scourge of plastic waste.
“Last November, I was incredibly proud to have brought forward a legislative proposal for a Bill that would make provisions to introduce a deposit return scheme and to reduce waste in Wales. Having already obtained a promise to introduce measures in the autumn, I am pleased to have used today’s CCEI meeting to ensure the proposal will be an ‘all-in’ measure.
“In my conversations with drinks producers, it has been made clear that the sector remains supportive of introducing a well-designed DRS that ensures no end user is left confused. Clinching a commitment to introduce an ‘all-in’ scheme will help to guarantee higher engagement levels. I will now look to ensure that this promise is kept so that policy keeps apace with ambition.”
ENDS
Photo: by tanvi sharma on Unsplash
