In its second major sustainability policy update in the space of a week, the UK government confirmed on Monday [27 January] that a deposit return scheme (DRS) will start in England and Northern Ireland in October 2027. It comes on hot on the heels of the announcement a scheme administrator has been created to run the packaging extender producer responsibility (EPR) programme.
There have been several false starts with the DRS, which was originally due to come into effect this year having initially been announced in 2018, and there is growing opinion that a digital version of the scheme might prove more transformative. Nevertheless, from 2027, consumers returning plastic and metal drinks containers to dedicated sites and machines will be able to retrieve the deposit imposed on them at the point of purchase.
The aim of the scheme is to increase recycling rates in the UK and reduce waste and litter.
Present in more than 50 countries worldwide, a DRS is used as a method for encouraging people to recycle more single-use bottles and cans.
Countries such as Germany, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland have successfully implemented schemes, ensuring valuable materials are collected, recycled and made back into new drinks containers.
The average return rate for European countries with a DRS is 90%, according to global NGO Reloop, with Germany performing the best at 98%. The Republic of Ireland scheme launched last year and was covered on Green Retail World recently.
Across England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland – which is planning to launch its own DRS in 2025 following delays of its own – people buy an estimated 30 billion single-use drinks containers each year – including 12 billion plastic drinks bottles and 13 billion drinks cans. An estimated 6.5 billion single-use drinks bottles and cans per year go to waste rather than being recycled.
Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said the current government wanted to “end the throwaway society”.
“This is a vital step as we stop the avalanche of rubbish that is filling up our streets, rivers and oceans and protect our treasured wildlife,” she said of the DRS.
“Turning trash into cash also delivers on our ‘Plan for Change’ by kickstarting clean growth, ensuring economic stability, more resilient supply chains, and new green jobs.”
Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman commented: “We are pleased to have certainty on the DRS regulations so local shops can start to prepare for October 2027 and our communities can realise the benefits of reduced litter and higher quality recycled materials.
“Now the real work begins to make the deposit return scheme a success through cross-industry partnership and a planned network of return points that work for customers.”
Meanwhile, last week, it was announced that PackUK will be the name for the new packaging EPR scheme administrator, which is being implemented to help businesses reduce packaging usage and promote more sustainable alternatives.
PackUK, to be known as PecynUK in Wales, will shift the cost of managing household packaging waste from taxpayers and local authorities to those businesses who use and supply the packaging.
The role of PackUK will be to set packaging EPR’s fees, raise the fees from obligated producers and make packaging waste disposal payments to local authorities in return for the delivery of better collection and recycling services. It will also be responsible for public communications and information campaigns to encourage the public to dispose of packaging waste correctly and not litter their packaging.
Dr Margaret Bates, head of the scheme administrator, remarked: “The need for an effective packaging EPR scheme that shifts the cost of managing household packaging waste to producers has never been more critical.
“The launch of PackUK marks an exciting leap forward in delivering this. We remain committed to working closely across the four nations, producers, and stakeholders across the collection and packaging value chain. “
To mark its launch, PackUK will be at the Packaging Innovations Birmingham on 12-13 February 2025. The event will see Creagh chair a panel of experts where common aspirations for the scheme will be discussed.
[image credit: Green Retail World]
