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Packaging rule · United Kingdom · Deposit return

Deposit return scheme for drinks containers (England and Northern Ireland)

Deposit return rule covering plastic, metal in England, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, set by Secretary of State (Defra), with consent of DAERA. Adopted; applies from 1 October 2027.

By the SPI teamRule ID PR-GB-004Source consulted 13 October 2026Verified 13 October 2026
Sourced facts

The rule

Recorded from the official source named below. Rates and dates are as the source states them on the date it was consulted.

Jurisdiction
United Kingdom · England, Northern Ireland
Authority
Secretary of State (Defra), with consent of DAERA
Rule type
Deposit return
Materials
Plastic, Metal
Status
Adopted, not yet applying Enacted
Adopted or published
23 January 2025
Applies from
1 October 2027
From the source

“Except as provided in paragraph (3), these Regulations come into force on 1st October 2027.”

Official source legislation.gov.uk: SI 2025/67 Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (England and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025Official (government or regulator) · consulted 13 October 2026

Deadlines

Key dates

  1. Adopted or published 1 year and 8 months ago

  2. Source consulted by the SPI team today

  3. Re-checked by a second SPI team member today

  4. Today

  5. Applies from in 11 months

SPI analysis

What it means

SPI analysis Our reading of the official source above. Not legal advice; always rely on the official text.

SPI summary

Regulations set up a deposit return scheme for single-use PET plastic, steel and aluminium drinks containers of 150ml to 3 litres, run by a deposit management organisation. The scheme starts on 1 October 2027. Glass is not included.

In practice

From 1 October 2027 drinks in single-use PET plastic, steel or aluminium containers of 150 ml to 3 litres sold in England and Northern Ireland enter a deposit return scheme run by a deposit management organisation (DMO). Drinks producers register with the DMO, pay a fee and an amount equal to the deposit on each item, and print the scheme logo and return code. Packaging converters supplying cans, bottles and labels need to plan artwork and possibly container changes before launch.

Who is in scope

  • Single-use containers made wholly or mainly from PET plastic, steel or aluminium, 150 ml to 3 litres
  • Producers established in the UK: drinks manufacturers (typically brand owners), importers and fill-to-order businesses; GOV.UK adds that Republic of Ireland producers supplying Northern Ireland register
  • Retailers selling in-scope drinks (charge deposits) and groceries retailers that host return points
  • Drinks supplied in England and Northern Ireland

Who is not

  • Glass containers
  • Containers made mainly from HDPE, per GOV.UK guidance
  • Drinks first supplied before 1 October 2027
  • Registered low volume products (up to 6,250 containers in the first scheme year and 5,000 in later years) for deposits and labelling, though they still register
  • Small urban groceries retailers under 100 m2 from the return point duty

What to do and by when

  1. NowMap drinks lines by material and volume to see which fall within 150 ml to 3 litres in PET, steel or aluminium.
  2. NowCheck DMO registration requirements and timing, since producer registration provisions already apply.
  3. Before 1 October 2027Plan artwork changes to add the scheme logo and return code, and multipack logos where relevant.
  4. When the DMO sets the deposit and feesBudget for producer fees and deposit cash flow.

Related rules

  • PR-GB-005 Scotland deposit return scheme start moved to October 2027
    Scotland's scheme also starts on 1 October 2027 with aligned scope.
  • PR-GB-002 UK packaging EPR regulations (pEPR) 2024
    Same jurisdiction: packaging EPR, which treats DRS containers separately.
  • PR-IE-001 Ireland Deposit Return Scheme (Re-turn)
    Same type elsewhere: Ireland's Re-turn scheme, relevant for Northern Ireland supply chains.
  • PR-EU-007 PPWR: 90% separate collection of beverage containers (deposit systems)
    EU 90% separate collection target for beverage containers by 2029, in principle via deposit systems.

Where the record is unclear

  • The deposit amount is not set in the regulations text reviewed; GOV.UK says the DMO will set it and producer fees.
  • The page text of SI 2025/67 was only partly read (to regulation 56); enforcement and later Parts were not reviewed.
  • Wales is not covered by these regulations and no Welsh scheme is in the record set.

Sources for this note

  1. legislation.gov.uk: SI 2025/67 Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (England and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025 Consulted 13 October 2026
  2. GOV.UK: Deposit Return Scheme: drinks producer and retailer responsibilities Consulted 13 October 2026

Note written by the SPI team on 13 October 2026.

Where it sits in the tracker

  • One of 7 packaging rules we track in the United Kingdom, of which 2 are deposit return rules.
  • In all, 7 deposit return rules are tracked across 6 jurisdictions. Compare them below

Company profiles that map to this rule

Companies whose SPI profile lists this rule in its regulatory exposure, based on where they report selling. Not company-reported.

Audit trail

Change history

Verified: a second SPI team member re-checked every fact above against the source on 13 October 2026. Any later change to the facts sends the rule back to Sourced and is logged here.

  1. Verified by a second SPI team member

  2. Added to the tracker

Spotted an error? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com quoting PR-GB-004 and the source. Corrections are logged in this history.

Other jurisdictions

Deposit return rules elsewhere

The same type of rule for the same materials in other jurisdictions, by the date it applies.

RuleWhereTypeMaterialsStatusApplies from
Ireland Deposit Return Scheme (Re-turn)PR-IE-001IrelandDeposit returnPlastic, MetalIn force1 February 2024
Austria deposit on single-use beverage containersPR-AT-001AustriaDeposit returnPlastic, MetalIn force1 January 2025
Poland deposit return systemPR-PL-001PolandDeposit returnPlastic, Metal, GlassIn force1 October 2025
Portugal deposit and refund system (Volta)PR-PT-001PortugalDeposit returnPlastic, MetalIn force10 April 2026
PPWR: 90% separate collection of beverage containers (deposit systems)PR-EU-007European UnionDeposit returnPlastic, MetalAdopted, not yet applying1 January 2029

Every deposit return rule in the tracker

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