The UK Deposit Management Organisation (UK DMO) is a not-for-profit entity dedicated to the design, implementation, and management of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for single-use plastic and metal drinks containers. This initiative is set to launch in October 2027.
Additionally, while Wales is developing its own DRS, which includes glass, the Welsh Government has expressed its commitment to synchronize its launch date with other regions in the UK.
Bason, the newly appointed chair of UK DMO, brings a wealth of experience from the food, drink, and retail sectors. Notably, he has held significant board positions at Associated British Foods and Compass Group, and he previously chaired FareShare, where he facilitated the organization’s growth as a leading charity focused on reducing food waste by redistributing surplus food from retailers and producers to frontline charities.
Bason remarked on this pivotal appointment, asserting that the DRS offers a chance for “transformational change” in the UK as it transitions towards a circular economy.
He stated, “Having worked in markets across the world, I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact that such schemes can have.” However, he also emphasized the complexity and challenges ahead. Bason is committed to ensuring the scheme is user-friendly for consumers, fair for retailers and producers of all sizes, and trustworthy for the public. He aims to incorporate feedback and insights from a broad range of stakeholders in shaping the scheme.
Furthermore, Bason expressed his admiration for the caliber of fellow appointees to the UK DMO, sharing a unified vision to develop a scheme that benefits all. He outlined a clear objective: to unite businesses and consumers to prevent billions of bottles and cans from littering our streets, oceans, and countryside while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions.
Since its establishment in collaboration with the governments of England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland just over three months ago, the UK DMO has actively engaged with businesses of all sizes, trade associations, consumer groups, environmental organizations, and a diverse array of stakeholders. This engagement is foundational in informing the operational blueprint for the new scheme.
Moreover, the UK DMO has appointed several interim leaders with relevant expertise to steer the organization’s setup and operational planning. The recruitment process for additional board and senior-level positions is currently underway.
Ministers from Northern Ireland, including Andrew Muir, Mary Creagh, the circular economy minister, and Gillian Martin, the Scottish Government’s climate action secretary, have welcomed Bason’s appointment. They regard it as an “important milestone” for the organization.
