A Pembrokeshire politician has teamed up with Tenby Harbour Brewery to urge the Welsh Government to reconsider its decision to withdraw from a UK-wide Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) due to its insistence on including glass - with concerns raised that the ruling will put Welsh brewers and drinks producers at a ‘disadvantage’.

Climate Change Secretary Huw Irranca-Davies announced recently that the Welsh Government would no longer participate in the development of a UK-wide DRS, citing issues arising from the UK Internal Market Act 2020.

This decision is believed to be influenced by the Welsh Government’s plan to include glass in its scheme - a factor that contributed to the collapse of Scotland’s DRS in 2023.

The move has been met with frustration and anger from numerous organisations, who argue that this divergence will increase costs for Welsh producers and consumers.

Commenting on the matter, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Samuel Kurtz said: “This decision is deeply frustrating, and to diverge from a UK-wide scheme shows that it is not one made with the best interests of Welsh consumers and producers at its core.

“The UK market is so interlinked that any decision which places Welsh businesses at a competitive disadvantage should not proceed. These calls from a range of industry and business representatives have been ignored by the Welsh Government.

“For the sake of our businesses and consumers, I urge the Welsh Government to reconsider its decision, align itself with the UK-wide scheme, and provide proper support to Welsh businesses,” he added.

Industries, especially the micro-brewery sector, would be especially hit hard in Wales by the Welsh Governments choice.

Mr Kurtz spoke to a representative of Harbwr - Tenby Harbour Brewery on the matter, who said that such decisions seem ‘illogical’.

The Harbwr Brewery, which was established in 2015, tucked away on Sergeant’s Lane, just above Tenby harbour, is a state-of-the-art 5-barrel brewery, housed in a sympathetically converted eighteenth century warehouse.

The microbrewery is a hive of activity, with a team of passionate brewers blending over 15 unique beers.

Speaking following the announcement, Richard Johnson, head brewer at Harbwr remarked: “The brewing industry has had to tread a path through Covid lockdowns, energy price increases, a cost of living crisis and rising wage and national insurance bills, making it increasingly difficult for brewers get good returns and re-invest in their businesses.

“Wales is a recycling nation, so a blunt 'one size fits all' approach creates additional logistical and financial burdens on the smallest producers, when the very largest producers are generating the majority of the recycling demand.

“It also seems illogical to diverge away from a UK wide scheme which will put Welsh brewers and drinks producers at a disadvantage.

“The UK and Wales has a proud brewing heritage, but adding in measures such as DRS to small brewers means that their time and money are directed to these activities, instead of using their time for innovation and R&D, of which the UK brewing scene is known and revered for.”