What is a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)?
A DRS for single use drinks containers is a circular economy initiative that will create a closed loop recycling system, guaranteeing the material is returned and recycled into new drinks containers.
When you buy a drink, you pay a small deposit in addition to the price of the drink. When you return your empty, undamaged container to a return point, you get your deposit back in full.
All UK nations are working together to bring in DRS, this is currently planned for October 2027.
Not every drink container will be eligible for Deposit Return. In Northern Ireland drinks in PET plastic bottles, aluminium & steel cans from 150ml to 3 litres are included in the scheme. In scope containers will have a scheme logo to identify them.
Drinks containers not included in DRS will be included in packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/topics/waste/packaging ) and should still be recycled.
Why a DRS?
Introducing a DRS for single use drinks container
Many countries have successfully used deposit return schemes (DRS) to increase recycling rates of drinks containers, with well-functioning schemes achieving collection targets of 90% or higher. Current recycling rates in the UK for drinks containers are around 70%, lower than other countries that have a DRS in place. This leaves approximately 120 million plastic bottles and 75 million cans that are not recycled every year in NI. Drinks containers often end up in landfill or sent to incineration plants, releasing highly polluting greenhouse gas emissions, and increasing the demand for virgin materials, which also generate greenhouse gas emissions associated with creating new products. A DRS will create cleaner, segregated waste streams, providing a steady supply of high-quality material which can be used for bottle to bottle or can to can recycling.
The implementation of a DRS will substantially reduce littering of in-scope containers in our streets and countryside. The 2022/23 Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Litter Composition Report estimated that almost 19% of litter consisted of materials that are in scope of DRS.
2021 DRS Consultation
Two consultations have been held on developing a DRS and received broad support. The first, in 2019, explored the design and scope that a DRS could take. On 24 March 2021, the UK Government, the Welsh Government and the DAERA launched a second consultation on further design and delivery of a DRS for single use drinks containers. The consultation ran for 10 weeks and closed on 4 June 2021 receiving 2,590 responses from a broad range of stakeholders.
The government Response and Summary of Responses to 2021 Consultation are available at the link below.
The joint four nation policy statement providing an update on DRSs across the United Kingdom (April 2024).
This policy statement provides updates on:
- the DRS implementation timeline
- joint positions from the UK government, DAERA in Northern Ireland, the Scottish Government, and the Welsh Government facilitating interoperable schemes across the UK
- positions on returning containers across the UK
- other relevant updates on VAT, permitted development rights for reverse vending machines (RVMs) and how prices should be displayed
- clarity on the timebound exclusion of DRS containers from packaging EPR obligations next steps
Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers: policy statements - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)