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After many months of planning and consultation, the legislation for the upcoming Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is implemented today (27 January).

As previously reported, the government pledges an end to our ‘throwaway society’, with drinks containers in Northern Ireland and England being able to be returned to stores and collection points from October 2027 - in return for a financial incentive.

Today, legislation for England and Northern Ireland comes into force, enabling the appointment of the scheme administrator – known as the Deposit Management Organisation – in April this year. This will be a not-for-profit, industry-led body responsible for the administration and day-to-day running of the scheme.

Encouraging everyone to get involved in recycling, the DRS will be introduced in October 2027, with 150ml to three-litre size single-use drinks containers made from plastic and metal included in the scheme. Countries such as Germany, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland have successfully implemented schemes, ensuring valuable materials are collected, recycled and made into new drinks containers.

Circular Economy Minister, Mary Creagh, said of the news: “This is a vital step as we stop the avalanche of rubbish that’s filling up our streets, rivers and oceans and protect our wildlife.”

Northern Ireland’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Andrew Muir, said: “I have ambitious goals to protect our climate, drive green growth and reduce unnecessary waste. The creation of a DRS plays a key part in delivering those goals. The introduction of the new parliamentary regulations is a significant step in that process and signals our commitment to move forward together to make those ambitions a reality.

With Scotland’s own regulations also progressing, this marks a major step forward for the introduction of the scheme across the three nations.

Meanwhile, Stephen Moorhouse, vice president and general manager of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ GB business unit, said: “We’ve been supportive of launching a DRS across the UK for a number of years as they’re a proven way of increasing recycling, reducing waste and tackling litter. We welcome the clarity provided by the regulation for England and Northern Ireland and are encouraged by recent developments that will ensure an aligned scheme with Scotland, despite wider challenges.”

The Association of Convenience Stores chief executive, James Lowman, added: “We’re 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.”

Finally, Sarah Horner, UK and Ireland director at circular economy non-profit group Reloop, said: “We were delighted to see the regulations pass through the UK Parliament last week, allowing England and Northern Ireland to move ahead at pace with the delivery of this vital scheme. We fully support the next steps, which will both tackle the scourge of litter and offer a valuable source of recyclate materials to industry. The Republic of Ireland has seen almost a billion containers returned since its scheme launched last February and surveys there have reported huge falls in drinks litter.”

Hitting this milestone is another step forward for the Government’s collection and packaging reforms, which together will support 21,000 new jobs and stimulate more than £10 billion of investment in recycling over the next decade. The plan has not been without contention however, as differing opinions on the scheme on various sides of various borders has meant it may not be consistent across all sections of the UK – and the Conservatives last week pulled its support.

Watch this space for further developments as the scheme’s full implementation draws closer.