The Westminster government has confirmed that the introduction of deposit return schemes (DRS) in the UK will be pushed back two years to October 2027.
DRS in Scotland has been delayed a number of times previously and was most recently scheduled for an October 2025 UK-wide go-live date.
In a written ministerial statement published this morning (25 April), Robbie Moore MP said this was a “stretching” target and that an October 2027 implementation would be required to ensure that the rollout of schemes was effective and efficient.
The revised date is subject to agreement from the devolved administrations.
Moore also confirmed that the UK government has no intention of including glass within its DRS, with only the Welsh government currently committed to a scheme that includes glass. The statement refers to figures from Keep Britain Tidy which show that just 4% of litter was comprised of glass drinks containers in 2020.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) welcomed the news. Chief Executive James Lowman said: “It’s essential that the scheme is given every opportunity to succeed, which involves as much alignment as possible between UK nations, the strategic mapping of sustainable return points, and the creation of the Deposit Management Organisation. We will continue to work with our members on how they can engage with the scheme.”
A number of producers, including Britvic, Coca-Cola and Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, also supported the postponement.
Dusan Stojankic, Coca-Cola’s Vice-President GB&I, commented: “To make sure DRS is a success, we must have truly interoperable schemes in place across England, Scotland and Wales. We call on all parties and governments to work together to ensure that the schemes move forward with pace and with consistency of materials in scope. Having a common approach will ensure we have a best-in class system in place – and is the only way we will improve the circular economy and cut litter.”
