UK households will receive a 20p payment for returning empty single-use drinks bottles and cans to dedicated collection points at major supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Sainsbury's, as well as convenience stores and newsagents, under a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) launching on October 1, 2027. The scheme, confirmed by Exchange for Change, applies a flat 20p deposit on all in-scope containers, meaning shoppers get 20p per bottle or can returned, with no receipt required.
How the Deposit Return Scheme Works
Consumers will pay a small deposit when purchasing drinks in plastic bottles or metal cans, which they can reclaim by returning the empty containers to retailers. The returned containers will be recycled. The scheme covers single-use drinks containers between 150 millilitres and 3 litres made from PET plastic, steel, and aluminium, but not glass, in England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Wales will include glass bottles but initially without a deposit, though it is expected to align with the 20p rate.
Industry and Government Support
Travis Way, managing director at EcoVend, part of Reconomy, said: "While much of the industry had anticipated a flat 20p deposit, its confirmation is a helpful step forward for businesses preparing for the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme. A flat rate also brings practical benefits for businesses by simplifying implementation, reducing administrative complexity and supporting more consistent system design across retailers, producers and return operators." He added: "Having greater clarity at this stage allows retailers, producers and operators to plan with more confidence, particularly when it comes to infrastructure, cashflow and customer engagement."
Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh told The Express: "This Government is committed to cleaning up our streets and ending our throwaway culture. Deposit return schemes are proven to reduce the littering of cans and plastic bottles and drive up recycling rates which have flatlined for 15 years. Our packaging reforms will create 25,000 jobs and lead to more than £10 billion investment in recycling during the next decade."
Impact on Litter and Recycling
The DRS aims to reduce litter and increase recycling rates. UK consumers use approximately 14 billion plastic drinks bottles and nine billion cans annually. According to research by Keep Britain Tidy, small plastic bottles and non-alcoholic cans make up 43% of litter by volume. Similar schemes operate in over 50 countries, including Germany, Sweden, and the Republic of Ireland.
Shehab, Team Leader at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), said: "Under this scheme, a redeemable deposit is placed on specific drinks containers that can be claimed when the item is returned to a collection point, such as a local supermarket. There’s no need for a receipt or proof of purchase, so anyone can return their own drinks containers or ones that they find, as long as they’re in good nick. This means we can all chip in to help clean up our communities – and get something for it."
Retailer Responsibilities and Exemptions
Retailers selling drinks included in the scheme must pay a deposit to producers or wholesalers when purchasing drinks and charge the deposit to consumers at the point of sale. They must then refund the deposit at the point of return, via cash, voucher, or card. Return points may be manual or automated reverse vending machines. Retailers in urban areas with less than 100m2 of retail space are exempt from hosting a return point but can volunteer. Other organisations, such as hospitality venues, schools, and gyms, can also host voluntary return points.
