Deposit Return Scheme
Drinks litter is one of the most commonly found items on our beaches. We've been calling for Deposit Return Schemes to be urgently introduced across the UK.
What is a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)?
You pay a small deposit on top of the price of a drink. When finished, you return the drinks container to a collection point - in a supermarket or shop for example - where you get your money back.
This sort of system would reduce littering, putting a value on what is commonly seen as 'worthless', and encourage others to pick up drinks litter they come across. It’s a simple idea which would have an immediate impact.
Why do we need Deposit Return Schemes?
DRS reduce litter and help the drive towards a circular economy - where materials aren’t lost, but used again and again.
Our Bottles for Change campaign, launched in 2018, gathered more than 25,000 signatures in support of a DRS for all drinks containers, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We’ve seen incredible public support for a Deposit Return Scheme and further delay means more bottles and cans blighting our beaches.
Progress in the UK
Policy Updates November 2024
On 26th November 2024 DEFRA laid the draft legislation needed for DRS in England and Northern Ireland. This is a massive step forward for our DRS work – it shows the UK Government’s commitment to moving ahead with the October 2027 date.
The legislation will now go through parliamentary process, and we hope to see it pass in January 2025. These regulations will cover England and Northern Ireland, with Scotland then amending the regulations already laid.
On the 18th of November Deputy First Minister for Wales Huw Irranca-Davies MS announced that Wales would no longer be proceeding with the joint approach with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland as outlined in April 2024. You can read the written statement and find out more information below. The UK Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive remain committed to jointly implementing Deposit Return Schemes for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively, by October 2027 for plastic and metal drinks containers.
Following the announcement by Wales, we’re looking forward to hearing more details on its plans, which might also include glass.
England
In November 2024, the UK Government announced a huge step forward for DRS, by laying the legislation for DRS to start in October 2027. We hope MPs will support the legislation and vote it through early next year so industry can move forward with setting up the scheme.
In January 2023, the UK Government for England announced plans for a DRS to be introduced by 2025. This followed a number of consultations which gathered insights from members of the public and businesses into how a DRS could work. Read our response to the consultation.
However, an announcement in January 2024 shifted the start date from October 2025 to 2027. Read the full story. We can’t afford any more delays and need this to come in much faster to save our seas.
Although the introduction of the scheme is a step in the right direction to reduce drinks-related litter such as plastic bottles and aluminium drinks cans, glass will not be included in the 2027 scheme in England and Northern Ireland.
In their 2019 manifesto, the UK Government committed to a Deposit Return Scheme including glass: “We will [...] introduce a deposit return scheme to incentivise people to recycle plastic and glass.”
For the last 10 years, glass bottles have consistently been found on over half of all our beach litter surveys.
Northern Ireland
Legislation laid down by the UK Government in November 2024 will apply to Northern Ireland too, with a Deposit Return Scheme set to start in October 2027, if the legislation is approved in January 2025. The Scheme will cover plastic bottles and steel/aluminium cans but currently excludes glass.
Scotland
Scotland was the first nation in the UK to commit to a DRS, which was going to include PET plastic bottles, glass bottles and steel/aluminium drinks cans.
Prices for drinks in these types of containers will include a deposit of 20p per bottle or can, which will be fully refunded when returned for recycling.
The scheme was due to be implemented in March 2024. However, the UK Government did not provide an exemption for the inclusion of glass through the Internal Market Act. The Scottish Government then announced it would delay implementing its Deposit Return Scheme and start in line with the rest of the UK in October 2025. We're disappointed that yet again, the scheme will be delayed and could see the removal of glass. We know Deposit Return Schemes have huge potential to turn the tide on drinks-related pollution, for the benefit of both people and planet.
Scotland's seas cannot, and should not, be paying the price for our waste. We now call on everyone involved to work together to deliver a Deposit Return Scheme that Scotland can be proud of and will benefit our beaches for generations to come.
We had hoped the announcement by the UK Government in April on announcing the next steps would have allowed Scotland to move forward with their plans for a Deposit Return Scheme to include glass. However, the announcement highlighted Scotland would now align with England and Northern Ireland and exclude glass. This is not good enough. We need every country to follow the ambition set by Wales to include plastic, metal and glass in their deposit return scheme.
Wales
On the 18th of November Deputy First Minister for Wales Huw Irranca-Davies MS announced that Wales would no longer be proceeding with the joint approach with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland as outlined in April 2024. You can read the written statement which highlights the commitment Wales still has to DRS but one that includes glass and also reuse which we support.
Elise Lavender, Parliamentary Affairs Officer at the Marine Conservation Society, said, “Last year our volunteers found drinks-related litter on 96% of beaches surveyed in Wales, highlighting the desperate need for promised Deposit Return Schemes. We have been campaigning for over a decade for the ideal scheme, inclusive of metal cans, plastic and glass bottles.
“We respect the Welsh Government's decision to move forward with a Deposit Return Scheme tailored to Wales, acknowledging the complexities of the UK Internal Markets Act. While today's announcement lacks timescales for delivery, we support the goal of implementing a Scheme in Wales by 2027, which includes glass. We look forward to collaborating with the Welsh Government and other UK governments to create comprehensive schemes, inclusive of metal cans, plastic and glass bottles.”
Deposit Return Schemes in the UK
Sandy Luk, Chief Executive of the Marine Conservation Society said: "Drinks-related litter has been recorded on 97% of UK beaches surveyed by our volunteers. We are therefore delighted to see the legislation being laid in the UK Parliament for Deposit Return Schemes in England and Northern Ireland.
We know that these systems really work – they reduce litter on our beaches and increase recycling.
Sandy Luk, Chief Executive of the Marine Conservation Society
Campaigning for Deposit Return Schemes across the UK
We have campaigned for Deposit Return Schemes across the UK for nearly a decade and we were delighted to see all four nations commit to implementing schemes by October 2027. With previous delays to the schemes' introduction, we want to ensure they're delivered as and when promised - and so do our Youth Ocean Network.
This group of young ocean activists created a video to highlight the importance of Deposit Return Schemes and their urgent introduction. This was shown by Reloop at its deposit return event at the 2024 Labour Party Conference, giving these young voices a platform.
With thanks to Youth Ocean Network members Eden, Ellena, Sophie and Zoe for helping to create this video and Reloop, who produced it.