A Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) launching across the UK from October 1, 2027 will see supermarkets including Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's pay customers 20p for every empty bottle or can returned, with no receipt required.
Under the scheme, consumers will pay a 20p deposit when purchasing drinks in plastic bottles or metal cans, which is refunded when the empty container is taken back to collection points at supermarkets, convenience stores or newsagents. The flat 20p rate was confirmed last month by Exchange for Change.
Travis Way, managing director at EcoVend, said the uniform deposit simplifies implementation and reduces administrative complexity. He added that greater clarity allows retailers and producers to plan with more confidence regarding infrastructure, cashflow and customer engagement.
The DRS aims to tackle litter and boost recycling. Brits use around 14 billion plastic drinks bottles and nine billion cans annually. Keep Britain Tidy research shows small plastic bottles and non-alcoholic cans account for 43% of litter by volume.
More than 50 countries, including Germany and Sweden, already operate similar schemes. In England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, the scheme will cover single-use containers between 150ml and 3 litres made from PET plastic, steel and aluminium, but not glass. Wales will include glass bottles initially without a deposit.
