The Deposit Return Scheme and what it means for Food Service

What is the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)?
A Deposit Return Scheme is an environmental recycling programme designed to reduce litter and increase recycling. Under a DRS:
Consumers pay a small deposit when buying a drink in a can or bottle.
When the empty container is returned to a designated collection point (such as a reverse-vending machine in stores), the deposit is refunded.
Returned containers are then recycled and reused, helping to cut waste and reduce carbon emissions.
The UK’s long anticipated DRS is being set up to launch in October 2027 and will cover aluminium and steel drinks cans and plastic (PET) bottles across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales (who will also be including glass bottles).
From a regulatory standpoint, producers and retailers will have new legal responsibilities: ensuring products are correctly labelled with the scheme’s logo, registering with the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO), and participating in the return and recycling infrastructure.
In England, Northern Ireland and Scotland glass is being excluded from the initial scope. The glass industry has argued against including it in the DRS, saying that it would increase cost and complexity.
In January, Exchange for Change was announced as the new trading name and brand identity for the Deposit Return Scheme.
 
Welsh DRS to include glass after securing exemption
In mid-February the UK government signed off on Wales’ request to allow glass to be part of its DRS.
The exemption allows Wales to launch its scheme in October 2027 alongside deposit return programmes in the rest of the UK, but with a wider range of materials covered.
Government officials described the move as a major milestone in efforts to cut litter and strengthen the circular economy.
From launch, the scheme will apply to single-use drinks containers made from PET plastic, aluminium, steel and glass, covering sizes from 150ml to 3 litres.
 
What is Ireland’s Re-turn scheme?
The Ireland Re-turn scheme is the national Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers in Ireland.
It is operated by Re-turn, the not-for-profit company established to run the system on behalf of the drinks industry.
Since it launched in February 2024, a small refundable deposit is added to the price of eligible drinks containers. When consumers return the empty container, they receive their deposit back.
Accepted materials include PET plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans between 150ml and 3 litres in size.
Deposit values are 15 cents for containers from 150ml to 500ml and 25 cents for containers between 500ml and 3 litres.
Consumers return their empty and undamaged containers to reverse-vending machines in supermarkets and shops or manual return points at participating retailers
The barcode must be intact so the machine can verify it was sold in Ireland.
 
How successful has it been?
Chris Sanders, Sales & Marketing Director of Radnor Hills, said: “Ireland’s Re-turn scheme has been very successful and has increased recycling rates, reduced litter and improved the quality of recycled materials.
“We recently went across to the Republic of Ireland with William Watkins, BSDA President and the founder and CEO of Radnor Hills, and Andy Bagnall, BSDA Director General, on a fact-finding trip. We also took some customers to show them DRS in action, because Ireland operates a retail-based scheme which is what the UK scheme will be.
“We wanted to learn how the scheme has impacted both retailers and consumers and to find out what uptake has been like. It was a very positive trip and great to see that DRS is now a way of life there for everyone.
“In the last two years, the Irish deposit return scheme has collected billions of bottles and cans, helping Ireland’s recycling rate for plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans to go from 49% to 91%.
“We’re going to be taking more customers over the coming months.”
 
How will DRS impact food service?
We believe that the DRS will be the biggest change in the next decade for the soft drinks industry.
At Radnor Hills, we’re looking forward to playing our part in the scheme.
Chris added: “Big global brands like Coca-Cola and Red Bull have been heavily involved in implementing and supporting DRS across Europe. But they don’t have a big footprint in food service, unlike Radnor Hills.
“We’re one of the biggest providers of soft drinks in food service, which is why we want to become the trusted advisor for DRS in this sector over the next 12 months. We’ll be working with our customers to turn uncertainty into opportunity.
“We think it’s a very exciting time for our industry and we’ve got lots of ideas for where reverse-vending machines could be installed, whether that’s a hospitality or leisure venue, an education site or a health sector customer.
“We can help anywhere with a high footfall to comply with DRS, to grow their recycling rates and to raise additional income which could, for example, fund essential equipment and machinery or be donated to their chosen charity or local cause – all while cutting waste and supporting a circular economy. Every return makes a difference.”
 
Any food service customers interested in finding out more about DRS and the opportunities open to them, contact your Radnor Hills account manager or email sales@radnorhills.co.uk
 
 
More information
https://www.britishsoftdrinks.com/articles/wales-regulations-mark-big-step-forward-for-uk-wide-deposit-return-scheme
https://www.britishsoftdrinks.com/
https://exchangeforchange.co.uk/
https://re-turn.ie/
https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-deposit-return-scheme-drinks-containers-wales-regulations-2026