Get support for the Republic of Ireland Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and prepare for the UK DRS coming in 2027.
What is the DRS?
The DRS aims to increase the collection of drink container packaging for recycling. Consumers pay a small deposit on drink containers that is reimbursed when returned for recycling at a collection point.
The UK DRS will begin in 2027 and applies to PET plastic bottles and aluminium cans in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The same will apply in Wales, with the potential addition of glass. A Republic of Ireland (ROI) DRS is already in operation that includes PET plastic and aluminium/steel cans.
The exact details for the UK DRS are to be confirmed. Retailers selling in-scope packaging will likely have to host collection points, via a reverse vending machine or storage of empty containers.
Who is impacted by the future UK DRS?
Your organisation may have required actions under the UK DRS if you meet any of the criteria below, when it starts in 2027.
Are you obligated?
Your organisation is likely to be obligated under the UK DRS if you:
Are a retailer, brand-owner, manufacturer or importer of drink container packaging which is between 150ml and 3l
What do you need to do?
If obligated, your required actions will depend on your activities:
UK supermarkets and convenience stores will be required to host return points
Producers will be required to register, submit data, label their packaging correctly and pay fees
Who is impacted by the Republic of Ireland DRS?
Your organisation may have required actions if you meet any of the criteria below.
Are you obligated?
Your organisation is likely to be obligated under the Republic of Ireland DRS if you:
Are a retailer or producer of drink container packaging
Sell or produce PET plastic bottles or aluminium/steel cans between 150ml and 3l
What do you need to do?
If obligated, your required actions will depend on your activities:
Producers must report data, pay fees and label their packaging
Retailers must host return points
Get the DRS data support you need
We provide expert support to help prepare your drink container data for the live ROI DRS.
For both the UK and ROI DRS, we provide essential data insights on the impact to your organisation, including your future DRS costs.
Don't just understand the likely cost impacts on your organisation, we'll also help you explore how changes to your in-scope packaging may impact your other obligations under Extended Producer Responsibility or the Plastic Packaging Tax.
Our data team are on hand to provide any bespoke DRS support you need.
Don’t just comply. Access all the support you need to optimise compliance, save time and improve your packaging.
Gain packaging insights
Explore exclusive online knowledge resources. Dive into analytics and insights fed by your packaging EPR data. Identify how to improve packaging sustainability and reduce its impact on your business.
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Optimise future compliance
Make future compliance easier. We offer a choice of reviews to assess your business activities, data health and processes. Our reports will recommend SMART improvement actions to optimise your compliance performance and reduce non-compliance risk.
Explore how to optimise future compliance
Save time with data collection
Remove the pain of gathering and managing complex packaging data. Our online Collect platform powers our packaging data collection service – all backed up by our expert team.
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Improve packaging sustainability
Access bespoke data insights and advisory services to improve your packaging sustainability. Complete Carbon Literacy training and voluntary producer action to move the dial.
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We are here to help you
Choose the level of help you need – from light touch to comprehensive support. We’re your trusted compliance partner.
Benefit from a wide range of services and support to help you go beyond compliance:
Assistance with packaging EPR, PPT, DRS and international regulations
A choice of data submission support and membership benefits
Services to optimise your compliance
Data collection and management to save time
Competitive PRN procurement
Data insights to understand and improve your packaging
Bespoke advisory services to improve packaging sustainability
