Exchange for Change confirms flat 20p deposit for DRS- UK

Posted on June 3, 2026 by DrRossH in Plastic Recycling

Exchange for Change, the not-for-profit, industry-led organisation delivering the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, has confirmed that a flat 20p deposit will be applied on all in-scope containers when the scheme launches in October 2027.

Source: Exchange for Change confirms flat 20p deposit for DRS

The point for organisers to wahc out for is the return operators will want to lower their costs to a minimum which means use of RVMs and return depots with no staff.   This means any crushed can or bottle with out a clear barcode will not be able to be returned.   This can be a significant percentage of containers being returned.