DRS explained - What we know so far, what we don't, and what businesses should do now
With the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) administrator, Exchange for Change, now fully established and the scheme scheduled to go live in October 2027, businesses across the supply chain are beginning to consider how best to prepare.
Although the implementation date is still over a year away, many organisations are keen to understand what is already confirmed, what remains undecided, and what steps they should be taking now.
Below, we set out what we do and don’t yet know about the DRS, and what obligated businesses should be thinking about at this stage.
What do we know so far?
It has been confirmed for some time that producers, including brand owners and importers, will have obligations under the DRS where they place drinks containers on the market that:
- Have a capacity between 150ml and 3 litres, and
- Are made from aluminium, steel or PET plastic.
Producer obligations will include paying a producer fee, reporting on the containers they place on the market, applying a deposit to each container, and meeting specific labelling requirements.
Certain grocery retailers, based on store size, will also have obligations. These retailers will be required to host return points where consumers can redeem their deposits and will be compensated for operating these return points via a ‘handling fee’.
Since the formal appointment of Exchange for Change, further clarity has been provided on some aspects of the scheme. This includes published guidance on:
- The exact labelling requirements for all in-scope containers.
- The use of Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) at return points.
- One‑page guidance documents covering different categories of obligated businesses.
All of this guidance is now available on the Exchange for Change website.
What decisions are still outstanding?
Despite recent progress, several key elements of the DRS are yet to be confirmed.
Key considerations that are yet to be announced include:
- The deposit amount that will apply to each container.
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