Deposit return schemes

Consumers in Northern Ireland, England and Wales will be able to recycle their plastic and canned drink containers more easily through a new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) set to be introduced by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in 2025.

Through a small refundable deposit placed on single-use drinks containers, the DRS will incentivise people to recycle their drinks bottles and cans to redeem their deposits. DAERA will work with its counterparts in England and Wales and with industry to press ahead with delivery of the scheme.

The next phase will be to work through development of the legislation, taking necessary steps to ensure it will work in practice, and appointment of the deposit management organisation (DMO). The DMO will be an independent, industry-led organisation established to run the DRS.