Radnor Hills heads to Ireland to see DRS in action

As the UK prepares for the launch of its own Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) the team at Radnor Hills has been taking customers to Dublin to show them first-hand how the system is working in practice.

With Ireland’s Re-turn scheme now firmly established, our recent fourth visit offered a valuable opportunity to speak directly with retailers, operators and consumers about the realities of the scheme, including the challenges, the successes and the lessons the UK soft drinks industry can learn ahead of the 2027 rollout.

A Deposit Return Scheme is designed to encourage recycling and reduce litter by adding a small refundable deposit to drinks containers.

Consumers pay the deposit when purchasing eligible drinks and receive it back when they return the empty container to a collection point, typically through a reverse vending machine (RVM).

Ireland officially launched its national Re-turn scheme in early 2024. The system applies to PET plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans between 150ml and 3 litres, with deposits ranging from 15 to 25 cents depending on container size.

The scheme has already had a major impact. According to industry figures, recycling rates for eligible containers have risen significantly, while billions of bottles and cans have been collected since launch.

The recent Radnor Hills delegation included Managing Director Simon Knight, Business Development Manager Leon Tarr and Head of Food Service Ilia Cacace-Badejo, and a number of our customers including Bidfood, Elior and Castell Howell.

The purpose of the trip was to understand how DRS works in real-world retail environments in Southern Ireland.

During the visit, our group toured supermarkets and convenience stores where reverse vending machines have become part of everyday life. We observed how consumers interact with the system, how retailers manage returns and how quickly habits can change once the scheme becomes embedded.

Simon said: “It was very clear to us that there’s a lack of understanding in the industry about the changes that are coming. So our team has been taking a number of our customers over to Ireland recently to help them to learn how the industry can work together to make DRS successful in the UK.

“This was my first visit, and I was struck by how clean everywhere is with not a scrap of litter anywhere, not even an empty crisp packet.

“One of the clearest takeaways for me was how normalised the Re-turn process has become for Irish shoppers. They have taken it on board, changed the way they run their homes and given space to store their empty cans and bottles, and made returning their empties now simply part of their weekly shop.

“Before they head into a supermarket, most people drop their empty drinks containers off at their nearest reverse vending machine and then either donate the money to charity or their local community or take their deposit vouchers and use them as money off their shopping.  

“We spoke to a number of local residents and they said it took a while to adapt to the process but it’s now part of their routine.

“Retailers also shared valuable operational insights, from managing machine maintenance to handling peak return periods and customer education.

“For Radnor Hills, the visit reinforced the importance of preparing leading food service wholesalers and hospitality operators for the arrival of DRS in the UK.

“While much of the public conversation around the scheme focuses on supermarkets, the implications for schools, leisure venues, healthcare sites, cafés and hospitality businesses are equally significant.

“Reverse vending machines could become increasingly common in high-footfall venues, helping organisations improve recycling rates while potentially generating additional income through returned deposits.

“The overall feedback from the trip was overwhelmingly positive and our customers have fed back what they learnt and are now filtering it down to their own teams.

“Ireland’s DRS has delivered clear environmental benefits, including increased recycling rates and a reduction in litter. The scheme is also helping create cleaner, higher-quality recycled materials that can be reused in future packaging.

“I think it will take a while for the UK to embrace it, but the benefits are enormous.”

The UK’s Deposit Return Scheme is currently scheduled to launch on 1^st October 2027 across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with Wales operating a wider scheme that also includes glass.

Customers will pay a small, refundable flat deposit, expected to be 20p, when buying an eligible single-use drink in-store or online. They get their deposit back when they return the empty container to designated return points. The scheme includes single-use PET plastic bottles and aluminium/steel cans ranging from 150ml to 3 litres.