Working for a joined-up Deposit Return Scheme
The UK government and devolved administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland have confirmed that Deposit Return Schemes will be launched across the UK in October 2027. We’re continuing to work hard with all governments involved to represent members’ views.
In November 2024, the Welsh Government announced that they will no longer proceed with the current iteration of the DRS and will pursue its own scheme, not aligned with the rest of the UK.
We’re making sure you’re up to speed on the key details of each scheme, the important political developments and what it means for hospitality businesses.
The UK's Deposit Return Scheme
Following our lobbying work, all three schemes (England, Northern Ireland and Scotland) have confirmed that hospitality venues, including food-to-go stores, will not be required to host a return point, but will be able to apply to host a voluntary return point. This is a significant win for the sector that we have been campaigning for and one that will minimise the financial implications of DRS on our businesses.
In practice, this means hospitality venues will be able to operate in a closed loop environment, meaning they will still be responsible for managing their own returns but will not be required to accept returns of containers they do not sell. Hospitality businesses choosing to do so should not pass the deposit onto the consumer.
What are the proposals in Wales?
The Welsh Government announced in November 2024 that they will no longer proceed with the current iteration of the Deposit Return Scheme, from October 2027. Instead, they will pursue an approach that looks “beyond recycling”, with a focus on reuse.
In August 2025, a consultation was launched with further details. We've broken down the proposals and what they mean for members.
