FAQs

Registration is required by law. It enables Exchange for Change to administer the Deposit Return Scheme by maintaining accurate records of in-scope drink containers placed on the market, the businesses participating in the scheme and the location of registered return points. This helps to ensure that the scheme operates fairly and effectively.

Retailers who are not obligated to host a return point do not need to register with the UK Deposit Return Scheme.

Groceries retailers, including supermarkets, convenience stores, newsagents and other stores that sell in-scope scheme articles, must operate as a return point unless they qualify for an exemption.

Some retailers may be exempt from operating a return point based on factors such as store size, proximity to another return point, and site constraints. You can view the full exemption criteria here.

• Producers / importers of drinks containers captured by the scheme
• Return point operators – groceries retailers (e.g. supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience shops, or newsagents) are obligated to host return points, although several exemptions exist which may mean registration is not required
• Takeback service providers – businesses that provide consumers a collection service for containers e.g. from the home
• Voluntary return point operators – applicable for organisations who are not obligated to host a return point but want to apply to operate a voluntary return point

There are two different registration phases, Phase 1 and Phase 2, and those required to register will need to complete both phases.

• Phase 1: From September 2026
• Phase 2: January 2027 onwards

Registration is taking place in two phases to support the effective planning and delivery of the DRS.

Phase 1 allows Exchange for Change to begin gathering high level information from businesses participating in the scheme.

Phase 2 will focus on the collection of more detailed information, which will be critical to ensuring businesses are ready and prepared for DRS and that the scheme launches successfully in October 2027.

To complete registration, you will need to provide details about your organisation.

If you are a Return Point Operator, you will need to provide details about your return point, including:

• Premises details (including address and key contact information)
• Whether the return point is manual take back or uses an RVM
• RVM details if applicable (model and serial number)

If you are a producer, when you are registering drinks containers, along with product information, specifications describing the material compositions will need to be included.

The required specifications are:

• Container material composition
• Label/material and adhesive type
• Cap/closure material
• Container dimensions (height, width, weight, volume)
• Barcode number and format
• Material barrier information (if applicable)
• Material colour

These specifications are usually available from the packaging manufacturer.

The regulations for the scheme make provisions for return point exemptions under certain criteria. You can view our Return Point Exemptions Criteria here. Exchange for Change is in the process of publishing further guidance for businesses that may consider applying for an exemption from operating a return point. Not sure if you’re exempt? Check your postcode first.

If your business is exempt, you must still provide customers with information on how and where they can redeem their deposit.

You will receive confirmation of your registration. If any further information is required, we will contact you. We will also keep you updated of any important next steps.

If any of the business details that you provide as part of your registration change in the future, it is your responsibility to update these with Exchange for Change.

We can provide general information on registration requirements but cannot advise on whether a specific business is required to register.

If you would like more detailed information about whether your business needs to register, please refer to the relevant regulator (Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and Natural Resources Wales) for advice on your specific situation.

No, there is nothing that consumers need to do until the scheme is in place. When we get closer to launching the Deposit Return Scheme, we will be making sure that everyone understands how the scheme will work. We will provide full information on what this means for consumers, including how you can tell if a product is in-scope of the scheme, how you can reclaim your deposit and recycle your empty containers. Only containers sold after the launch of the scheme will have a deposit applied to them, so any containers you purchase before 1 October 2027 cannot be exchanged for a deposit at a later date.

The Deposit Return Scheme will introduce a refundable deposit on eligible drinks containers. This deposit is not an additional cost, as consumers can get it back when they return their empty containers through an approved return point. The price of drinks themselves is not set by the Deposit Return Scheme and will continue to be determined by retailers and producers.

A “groceries retailer” means a retailer that is a supermarket of any size, a grocery store, a convenience store or a newsagent, and which sells groceries.

Groceries retailers (which includes supermarkets, convenience stores, newsagents and other stores selling scheme articles) are required to operate return points unless eligible for an exemption, and must:

• Register with Exchange for Change from 30 September 2026.
• Operate an automated, Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) or manual return point, unless exempt.

Not sure if you’re exempt? Check your postcode first.

• Groceries retailers must register as Return Point Operators unless automatically exempt or granted an exemption by Exchange for Change under the return point exemptions process (subject to applications being approved)
• Groceries retailers in an urban area and under 100m² are automatically exempt and do not need to register as a return point operator.
• Hospitality and other exempt outlets are not required to register as return points (see hospitality section in FAQs)

Please click here for the exemptions criteria.

Any business supplying drinks covered by the scheme will need to charge the deposit as part of the sale. This includes business to business sales, and sales by a business to a consumer.

For multipacks of containers, a deposit needs to be included per container. For example, for a six pack of containers, six deposits of 20p will need to be included in the sale.

Manual return point:

• Staff accept containers over the counter
• Refund is issued manually
• Containers are checked, bagged, tagged and stored, ready for collection

Automated return point via Reverse Vending Machine (RVM):

• Customer returns containers to an RVM
• The machine scans and validates the product
• Redeemable deposit vouchers issued automatically
• Containers are compacted by the RVM then stored ready for collection

Reverse Vending Machines act like normal vending machines, but in reverse. Instead of dispensing drinks, you put your empty  drinks containers into them. Most standalone machines look similar to a snack or drinks vending machine, although they can be much bigger. Further details on RVM specifications are available on our website here.

Exchange for Change will publish a list of certified RVM suppliers in October 2026.

All approved machines will meet scheme requirements, helping groceries retailers choose with confidence.

Consideration should be given to:

• The size of the RVM (footprint)
• Space available within the store
• The expected volume throughput of returned containers.

Further details on RVM specifications are available on our website here.

Deposits must be charged on all in-scope products even when sold online. Any container a consumer purchases and receives via an online retail delivery will be treated just like any other container, and consumers will be able to return containers, for redemption of the deposit, at a return point of their choice.

Online groceries retailers are not obligated to collect containers when they do home deliveries. However, they can voluntarily offer a takeback service and will need to register with Exchange for Change as a takeback service provider if this is something they want to offer consumers.

If you operate a return point, you will receive a Return Handling Fee (RHF) for eligible containers collected through the scheme. The fee is intended to help cover the costs of accepting, storing and processing returned containers.

• Manual return points – 3p per container
• Automatic return points
  • Tier 1 – 5p per container, up to 225,000 in-scope items returned annually
  • Tier 2 – 1.3p per container, for annual in-scope returns in excess of 225,000

Yes. Eligible small, independent retailers may be able to access grant funding to help with the cost of purchasing and installing a Reverse Vending Machine. Full details, including eligibility and how to apply, will be published in due course.

Retail selling space is the area of your premises that customers can access to browse and purchase products. Measure the internal floor area that customers can access to browse and purchase products. Include all customer-facing sales and display areas, but exclude stockrooms, offices, staff facilities, and other back-of-house areas that customers cannot normally access. For garage forecourts, only the area used for the sale and display of grocery products should be included.

Hospitality businesses are not obligated to register under the scheme. However, some hospitality businesses will need to register with Exchange for Change so they can receive a collection of the DRS containers they store for deposit reimbursement, which Exchange for Change will provide free of charge.

It depends where the drink is consumed:

• On-site (on-trade):
  • In Scotland, where consumption will definitely take place on-premises, a deposit should not be charged, where consumption may occur off-premises there is an option to charge the deposit.
  • In England & Northern Ireland hospitality businesses selling drinks for consumption on the premises have the option to charge the deposit.
• Off-site (takeaway): the deposit must be charged.

No, hospitality businesses don’t have to operate return points. That means you don’t have to accept empty containers from the public or operate an Exchange for Change return point.

Hospitality businesses that do not pass on the deposit to consumers should retain the container on the premises for collection by Exchange for Change.

Currently, there are slightly different requirements under the England / Northern Ireland regulations and the Scottish regulations for collection at hospitality venues.

In Scotland, containers must be retained and stored on the premises for collection by Exchange for Change.

In England and Northern Ireland, hospitality businesses may retain and store containers on the premises for collection by Exchange for Change. However, some businesses may find it more convenient to return the container to a local return point to enable a swift and more efficient reimbursement process.

Hospitality venues can apply to Exchange for Change to become a voluntary return point. This may suit large venues with outdoor footfall, or temporary and seasonal locations. Further information on how to apply as a voluntary return point operator will be published in due course.