Deposit Return Scheme
DRS is coming to England, Scotland and Northern Ireland
A Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers will be launched for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland in October 2027. The NSWA and our members have long supported the introduction of a DRS. Throughout 2024 and January 2025 we have been working with other major trade associations, drinks producers and retailers to prepare an application to form an industry-owned Deposit Management Organisation (DMO). This application has now been submitted to DEFRA and is under review.
What is a DRS?
A Deposit Return Scheme is a system where consumers pay a small deposit on beverage containers at the point of purchase. This is deposit refunded to the consumer when they return the container, which can then be recycled. In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland DRS will cover plastic (PET) bottles and metal cans between 150ml and 3 litres. DRS forms part of a body of packaging and waste reforms being introduced across the country.
Why DRS?
DRS has a number of advantages over our existing kerbside collection. DRS will:
- Increase recycling rates from around 70% to over 90%
- Reduce littering and waste
- Capture high quality material to be recycled back into drinks containers instead of downcycling
- Reduce carbon emissions and save energy compared to producing new materials.
What does it mean for natural source water producers?
- Producers will have to register with the DMO and report in-scope sales volumes ahead of October 2027
- Existing product labels will have to be changed to include the scheme logo and new barcodes
- They will have to pay producer fees to fund the DMO
- Producers will get the right of first refusal on the high quality recycled materials
What’s next?
There remain a number of important details that the DMO will need to decide, once appointed.
If you are a natural source water producer and want to stay up to date with DRS developments or to join the NSWA’s DRS working group contact info@naturalsourcewaters.org.uk
