The Story so far

It was back in December 2018 that the then Government published its Resources and Waste Strategy for England.

In response to many groups and individuals calling for action to combat litter pollution on land and at sea, a section in the document included the words “Helping Consumers Take More Considered Action” by “introducing a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for single-use drinks containers (subject to consultation)”

Since then consultations have come and gone, as did definite plans for the introduction of a DRS, so the campaigning continued, as concern over litter pollution intensified.

Where are we now?

Fast forward to January 2025 and the current UK Government issued a key press release:

“The Government has today (Monday 27 January) pledged to end the throwaway society and clean up Britain, as it implements legislation for the deposit return scheme for drinks containers in England and Northern Ireland”.

This news was warmly welcomed by many environmental groups and conservation organisations who have  been regularly providing concrete evidence of the urgent need for a DRS for the UK

You can read the full press release here

When will the UK Deposit Return Scheme start?

The DRS for England, Northern Ireland and Scotland is due to launch in October 2027

Who will manage the Scheme?

The Deposit Management Organisation (DMO), which was set up last May by the Government.

You can read its policy statement here. Readers can now keep in touch with progress by visiting their newly launched website https://exchangeforchange.co.uk/

How will the Scheme work?

Very simply, from October 2027, shoppers will pay a small deposit for 150ml to three-litre single-use drinks containers, which they can claim back, when they return empty plastic bottles and metal cans to participating stores or public collection points (RVMs)

What will be the benefits of the DRS?

It is clear from the experience of other countries that Deposit Return Schemes:-

• significantly reduce littering and its impact on the environment
• increase recycling rates, keeping valuable resources in circulation (circular economy)
• reduce demand for virgin materials and lowers carbon emissions
• heighten public awareness of the importance of environmental protection.

Where has the evidence come from?

Over 50 countries across the globe to date, have been running highly successful schemes. For example, Australia, Germany, Norway, the Republic of Ireland and, more recently, Romania.

The average return rate for European countries with a DRS is 90% with Germany showing the best results at 98%. Norway is not far behind.

For a full list of countries currently operating deposit return schemes, or have plans to do so, check out the work of Reloop.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has been carrying out extensive annual beach cleans across the UK for a number of years, and recording the findings of the huge amount of litter collected by volunteers.

Their research from 2023 Beach Cleans gets a mention in the Government press release above; and their results for 2024 can be found here.

The MCS also runs a Source to Sea Campaign

https://www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/citizen-science/source-to-sea/

Littered drinks containers often travel to the sea via storm drains and rivers/streams, or simply pollute gutters, hedgerows and grass verges.

This is an initiative for which a volunteer from local Transition Groups in Truro and Falmouth has been providing local evidence, as follows:

Phase 1 Results

1st January 2022 to 30th June 2023 (18 months) on behalf of Transition Truro – results sent to the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) as part of the Source to Sea campaign

Genuinely littered drinks containers collected (and recycled) mostly in the TR1 and TR3 areas – in town, country lanes and along the Truro River foreshore in particular. The vast majority were single items discarded in hedges, gutters, the river foreshore, and grass verges.

Total number of littered drinks containers collected and recorded 5054

Metal Cans 54% (2737); Plastic Bottles 34% (1732); Glass Bottles 12% (585)

Phase 2 Results

1st October 2024 to 30th September 2025 (12 months) in the Falmouth area on behalf of Transition Falmouth with results sent to the MCS as part of the Source to Sea campaign

Estimated No. of Litter Picks – all genuinely littered drinks containers – 232 -recorded and collected (recycled) in the TR11 area – small number in TR1 – in mostly inland locations. Mainly from parks, gutters, roadsides, grass verges, hedgerows, car parks, and fly-tipped areas.

Total Number of Littered Drinks Containers: 6369
Metal Cans – 60% (3800) ; Plastic Bottles – 34% (2191) ; Glass Bottles: 6% (378)

The gathering of evidence, nationally and locally, continues.

What about Wales?

Good question! Wales is already a world leader in recycling, and is keen to run its own Deposit Return Scheme, which unlike the other UK countries, is likely to include glass bottles.

Campaign groups have been calling for glass drinks containers to be included in the UK Scheme as, for example, in Germany and more recently, Latvia, Romania and Tasmania.

The UK Scheme will, however, focus on plastic bottles and metal drinks cans as, for example, in Norway and the Republic of Ireland.

Want to know more?

It is recommended you check out the latest update on the Marine Conservation Society website here where you will find four excellent videos about Deposit Return Schemes in Latvia and Denmark (including the innovative reusable cups initiative in Aarhus in Denmark).

The case for a DRS is very well made, and 20 minutes of watching time is highly recommended.

Just visit the above or click on the link Deposit Returns Schemes – Perspectives from the UK, Denmark and Latvia – YouTube

Comment

As the Grocer Magazine reports, the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme will be “the biggest change in the UK Packaging sector for decades”. It will, when fully operational, make a huge impact on the litter crisis, driving up recycling rates;cleaning up neighbourhoods and rivers and beaches across the United Kingdom.

Businesses, across the whole drinks supply chain, will need to step up and embrace this much-needed and timely initiative. They will need to register for the Scheme; apply the deposit, and pay it back in whatever form this will take. Supermarkets, convenience stores, newsagents and other retailers can host return points, and will need to store returned containers for collection.

Following the example of countries mentioned above, there will also be reverse-vending machines (RVMs) at convenient locations, to accept used metal cans and plastic bottles, and examples are featured in the videos above.

Keep in touch with the introduction of the UK Deposit Return Scheme nationally by signing up to the UK DMO Newsletter at https://exchangeforchange.co.uk.

Transition Falmouth will endeavour to keep followers abreast of local developments.

If politicians, local authorities, the business sector, and environmental/community groups work together to help facilitate the implementation of the DRS, the litter crisis across the UK can be resolved.

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