Following a debate on the 21st January 2025, the DRS regulations (Deposit Return Scheme) have officially been passed through the House of Commons, and will come into effect in England and Northern Ireland from 1st October 2027.
The regulations were passed with a majority vote of 277, with 352 votes for the regulations, and 75 votes against.
What is DRS?
DRS will involve consumers being charged a deposit up-front when purchasing single-use containers. This money will then be redeemed once the empty container is returned to a designated return point after use. The designated return point could be a shop, or even a reverse vending machine.
Single use containers that will be accepted through the DRS regulations are PET plastic bottles and drinks cans made out of steel or aluminium.
Why are DRS Regulations Being Introduced?
It is estimated that across the UK, consumers purchase an estimated 31 billion single-use drinks containers each year – 12 billion plastic drinks bottles, 14 billion drinks cans, and 5 billion glass bottles. Yet current collection rates are between 70 to 75%, and a significant amount of these containers end up littered or in landfill.
Analysis from the charity Keep Britain Tidy from 2020 found that small plastic bottles and non-alcoholic cans make up 55% of the volume of all litter.
The government has therefore decided that a DRS will increase recycling rates of certain materials, reduce the amount of litter we produce, and promote a circular economy. They are ambitious in their aim to increase recycling rates and reduce litter, ensuring resources are protected, kept in use for as long as possible, and waste is minimised.
What Will Be Included in DRS?
The DRS will include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, and steel and aluminium cans only.
Glass bottles will not be included.
Why is Glass Not Included in DRS?
There are a number of reasons that glass bottles will not be included in DRS regulations given by the UK Government:
Including glass creates undue complexities for the drinks industry and it increases storage and handling costs for retailers.
Glass containers are heavy and fragile, making them more difficult for consumers to return and receive their deposit, potentially forcing up the cost of their shopping.
Finally, the Keep Tidy Britain analysis of litter composition in 2020 showed that while 55% of litter was made up from PET bottles and metal drinks cans, only 4% was from glass containers, demonstrating that they are less of a threat to our environment.
The Importance of DRS
DRS regulations aim to increase the rates that we are recycling single-use drinks containers such as PET plastic bottles and both steel and aluminium cans. In doing so, we can ensure that resources are protected and kept in use for as long as possible which will minimise waste.
DRS will also promote a circular economy which increases the lifespan of recyclable materials as they can be repurposed and used over and over again, rather than going straight to landfill and contributing to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
How Can I Contribute to the DRS?
DRS is a simple scheme that encourages consumers to return their single-use PET plastic bottles and metal drinks cans.
When you purchase drinks in these containers you will pay a deposit. Once you have finished with your drinks containers you can return them to a designated collection point and you will be reimbursed.
Industry Reactions to DRS Regulation Approval
CEO of the Marine Conservation Society, Sandy Luk says: “This marks a fantastic win for our seas, as MPs voted in favour of a Deposit Return Scheme in England and Northern Ireland. With plans already in motion in Scotland and the Welsh Government exploring an ambitious scheme to include reuse, this is a great step towards schemes starting across the UK in October 2027.
“Last year, 97% of surveyed UK beaches were polluted with bottles and cans, posing threat to marine life like seabirds and seals. Deposit return schemes will not only boost recycling and move us towards a circular economy where nothing is thrown away, but also significantly reduce this kind of beach pollution. We’re excited to support governments and industry in launching these schemes as soon as possible.”
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