England to Clean Up Communities with Deposit Return Scheme for Plastic Bottles and Cans

The UK Government has confirmed that England will introduce a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and metal cans — a major new environmental initiative designed to cut litter, boost recycling rates and help end the “throwaway society.” (GOV.UK)

What Is the Deposit Return Scheme?

Under the scheme, people in England buying drinks in qualifying containers — such as plastic bottles and metal cans — will pay a small deposit at the point of purchase. Once the empty container is returned to a designated return point, such as a supermarket collection machine or recycling point, the deposit is refunded to the consumer. (GOV.UK)

This kind of system already exists in more than 50 countries worldwide and has been shown elsewhere in Europe to achieve very high return rates, with many schemes reaching around a 90 % return of containers. (GOV.UK)

When Will It Start?

The scheme in England is scheduled to launch in October 2027. This gives businesses and communities time to prepare infrastructure and systems for collecting and processing returned containers. (GOV.UK)

What Containers Are Included?

The scheme will apply to single-use drinks containers made from PET plastic and metal (aluminium and steel). These include bottles and cans between 150 ml and 3 litres in size. (GOV.UK)

Under the regulations:

• Retailers — especially larger supermarkets and convenience stores — will be expected to host return points where consumers can bring back containers. (GOV.UK)
• Small retailers (e.g., shops under 100 sqm in urban areas) may have some exemptions from hosting returns. (GOV.UK)

Why England Is Introducing the Scheme

The Government frames the Deposit Return Scheme as a practical step to reduce litter and waste, increase recycling, and move towards a circular economy where material is kept in use rather than discarded. (GOV.UK)

According to official estimates, consumers buy tens of billions of single-use drinks containers each year, but a significant number of these — especially plastic bottles and aluminium cans — are not recycled and often pollute streets, countryside and waterways. Encouraging people to return containers for recycling is intended to tackle this problem directly. (GOV.UK)

Supporting and Preparing for Change

New parliamentary regulations have already been put in place to enable the scheme in England, and a new body — the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) — has been established to run and administer the system, working with businesses, retailers and recycling partners. (GOV.UK)

Industry stakeholders and environmental groups have broadly welcomed the move, saying it will create jobs, stimulate investment in recycling infrastructure and help communities reduce pollution. (GOV.UK)

Looking Ahead

The introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme in England represents one of the most significant reforms to the country’s approach to packaging waste in years. It is part of a broader set of government efforts to improve recycling services, reduce litter costs and encourage producers to take greater responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products. (GOV.UK)