Scheme launches 1 October 2027
The Deposit Return Scheme,
explained for retailers.
You sell the drinks. You know your store. This site tells you exactly what changes, what it pays, and what to do in the next few months — in plain English, without the policy jargon.
Time remaining
Counting down to 1 October 2027
- Deposit
- 20pper in-scope container
- Launch
- 1 October 2027England, Scotland, N. Ireland & Wales
- Materials
- PET, aluminium& steel, 150ml–3 litres
- Manual fee
- 3pper container returned
- Automatic fee
- 5p then 1.3pabove 225,000/yr
- Grants
- £6,000per site, for small independents
Start here
Four questions, four answers
The scheme has different rules depending on who you are and what your store looks like. Find your path below.
I sell in-scope drinks
Every store must charge the 20p deposit on in-scope containers — even if you are exempt from hosting a return point. Start with your obligations.
Retailer obligationsI want to host a return point
Compare manual takeback against a reverse vending machine, and understand the handling fee you will be paid for doing it.
Return point optionsMy store is small
Urban stores under 100m² are automatically exempt. Larger small stores may be able to apply. £6,000 grants are available.
Check exemption criteriaI need the numbers
Model your store against the published handling fees, factor in grants, and see whether a return point works for you.
Open the calculatorWhat is in scope
Which containers carry a deposit
Two tests decide whether a container is in scope. If it is made of the right material and falls in the right size range, it carries a deposit.
Read the full rulesIn scope
- PET plastic — 150ml to 3 litres
- Aluminium — 150ml to 3 litres
- Steel — 150ml to 3 litres
Out of scope
- Glass (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland)
- Cartons
- Plastic film
- Refillable containers
The Welsh scheme does include glass, but no deposit is applied to glass containers in Wales until October 2031. If you trade in Wales you must accept glass returns ahead of the deposit applying.
The money
What you get paid for taking returns
The Return Handling Fee is designed to cover the cost of accepting, storing and preparing containers for collection. Here is the published rate card.
| Return point type | Rate | Applies to | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual return point | 3p | No threshold — flat rate | Covers the cost of accepting, counting, bagging, tagging, storing and preparing containers for collection, plus staff training and the floor space used. |
| Automatic return point — Tier 1 | 5p | Up to 225,000 containers per year | Applies to the first 225,000 in-scope items returned in a calendar year through a reverse vending machine. Tier 1 covers your fixed costs — machine lease, power, floor space and maintenance. |
| Automatic return point — Tier 2 | 1.3p | Above 225,000 containers per year | Applies to in-scope returns in excess of 225,000 in the same calendar year. High-volume sites typically cross into Tier 2 and should model the blended rate carefully — the marginal return on each extra container drops sharply. |
£60m of grant funding
£60m is available to help up to 10,000 small, independent retailers install reverse vending machines across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
First instalment paid three months after the RVM is installed. If you are a qualifying independent, this can be the difference between a return point working and not.
Two tools, two minutes, real numbers
Answer six questions about your store and get a modelled view of what a return point would earn you — including whether you should be applying for an exemption instead.