# The Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (Wales) Regulations 2026, Regulation 67: Review of operation of return points


(1) The deposit management organisation must, at intervals it considers appropriate, carry out a review of the operation of all return points in Wales.
(2) In carrying out a review under paragraph (1), the deposit management organisation must, in particular, consider—
(a) the number of return points;
(b) the location of return points, and in particular whether consumers have reasonable access to at least one return point;
(c) the number of returnable items that are returned at the return points;
(d) the costs involved in the operation of the return points;
(e) the likely impact on the number of returnable items returned at return points if the number of return points were to be increased or decreased;
(f) the likely impact on the number of returnable items returned at return points if the location of return points changed without changing the number of return points;
(g) the likely impact on the costs incurred in the operation of, or income derived from, the Scheme if the number of return points were to be increased or decreased;
(h) the likely impact of the costs incurred in the operation of, or income derived from, the Scheme if the location of return points changed without changing the number of return points;
(i) any information as to general litter levels and the level of containers in litter;
(j) any information as to footfall in the area under review;
(k) whether there is sufficient access to return points for persons living in villages and rural areas.
(3) The deposit management organisation may take any of the steps specified in paragraph (4) where it considers that the number of return points could be decreased without—
(a) reducing the number of returnable items that are returned under the Scheme, or
(b) reducing or removing reasonable access to return points in any part of Wales.
(4) The steps mentioned in paragraph (3) are—
(a) proposing to an in-scope retailer registered as a mandatory return point operator that they apply for a return point exemption in respect of premises specified by the deposit management organisation;
(b) proposing to a scheme supplier who is authorised to operate a voluntary return point that they request the revocation of their authorisation to operate that return point;
(c) ceasing to operate one or more return points that the deposit management organisation operates.
(5) The deposit management organisation may take any of the steps specified in paragraph (6) where it considers that an increase in the number of return points is needed to—
(a) increase the number of returnable items that are returned under the Scheme, or
(b) improve access to return points for consumers in any part of Wales.
(6) The steps mentioned in paragraph (5) are—
(a) carrying out a review of the current return point exemptions and decide whether to propose the revocation of any of them;
(b) setting up and operating one or more additional return points itself;
(c) any other step the deposit management organisation considers appropriate.
(7) When taking any steps under paragraph (4) or (6), the deposit management organisation—
(a) must have regard to the likely impact on the costs of operating the Scheme;
(b) may take different steps in relation to different parts of Wales.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2026/103/regulation/67 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/deposit-scheme-for-drinks-containers-wales-regulations-2026/regulation-67
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.