The Government confirms DRS delay until October 2027

The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) that was due to be implemented in Scotland in 2025 has been delayed until 2027. This will be aligned across all four nations across the UK.

The UK government and devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have confirmed that it will be launched across the UK in October 2027 and that there will be three separate schemes: one covering England and Northern Ireland, and others in each of Scotland and Wales.

Defra announcement

The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced the delay in a joint policy statement with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, and the Scottish and Welsh governments.

One reason for the delay was the potential inclusion of glass containers, which the Scottish and Welsh governments favoured.

However, due to opposition, the DRS will initially only include drinks containers made from PET, steel and aluminium. The position of glass containers will be determined in separate statements issued by each administration.

The new timeline for the DRS introduction is as follows:

Phase 1: Regulation and Deposit Management Organisation(s) (DMO) appointment – by Spring 2025

Regulations in place in all administrations, and DMO(s) appointed.

Phase 2: Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) set-up – Spring 2025 to Spring 2026

This phase allows time to establish the DMO(s) as an organisation that is capable of running DRS on behalf of industry in each administration and providing businesses with the information needed to prepare for DRS launch.

This will include:

The size of containers in scope will be between 150 ml and 3 litres across the UK. All containers outside this range will fall within the scope of the EPR scheme for packaging.

• securing funding and appointing key delivery partners
• appointing CEO, leadership team and staff
• procuring IT and logistics or collection partners
• designing and publishing decisions on key operational areas, including deposit level, labelling, proposed producer fees, approach to cutover, and RVM specifications
• developing a delivery plan and operational blueprint for obligated businesses

Phase 3: Roll out – Spring 2026 to Autumn 2027

This phase allows time for businesses to make the changes required for DRS.

It includes:

• the DMO(s) establishing the necessary national collection infrastructure, including counting and sorting centres, equipment and collection vehicles, recruiting staff and planning logistics routes
• the DMO(s) setting up the necessary digital and IT infrastructure for the registration and reporting of over 20 billion containers
• retailer activity to make decisions on return point locations and design, procurement and installation of reverse vending machines (including securing planning permissions and reconfigure stores), and training staff,
• producer activity to develop labelling and artwork; make preparations for collecting data; make changes to invoicing systems
• system-wide testing and readiness support
• commencement of consumer engagement campaigns

October 2027: DRS launch

Deposit Return Schemes across the UK are operational. Deposits are applied to in scope drinks containers, which can be redeemed upon return of the container for recycling.

Governments across the UK have committed to pursuing aligned schemes and have removed hospitality from the list of mandatory return points.

The size of containers in scope will be between 150 ml and 3 litres across the UK. All containers outside this range will fall within the scope of the EPR scheme for packaging.

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