Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

We want to know what you think about our plans to introduce the Deposit Return Scheme.

This will mean that consumers are charged a deposit up-front when they buy a drink in a container that is in scope of the scheme. The deposit can then be redeemed when the empty container is returned to a designated return point. The deposit provides a financial incentive for consumers to return drinks containers for recycling. The objectives of this system include boosting recycling levels, reducing littering, and offering greater opportunities to collect higher quality, uncontaminated materials in greater quantities thus promoting a circular economy.

We want to know what you think about proposals on how the new scheme will operate, including:

• System design
• System governance
• Implementation timelines
• How the system will be enforced

We are seeking views from across the industry, as well as members of the public, on how the scheme will function to ensure it achieves the desired outcomes. Responses to this consultation will help inform final policy decisions on key aspects of the scheme, such as governance, recycling targets and implementation timelines.

Deposit Return Scheme – Summary of 2021 consultation responses and publication of government response