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Policy

Managing waste

From
Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy
Directorate
Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change
Policy actions  3 of 5

Deposit return scheme

We are committed to introducing a deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use drinks containers in Scotland. This will help increase recycling, reduce litter and meet our climate change targets.  

Deposit return schemes are systems which encourage people to recycle. People pay a small deposit when they buy a drink in a single-use container and then get the deposit back when they return the empty bottle or can. The scheme will be operated by an organisation known as the Scheme Administrator. 

Timescales for the scheme 

We will continue working closely with the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive to ensure the successful rollout of the scheme across Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland in October 2027.  

We will also work closely with the Welsh Government as they develop their plans for a separate DRS. 

Apply to manage the Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers

Applications opened on 2 December 2024 to become a deposit management organisation (DMO) for the Deposit Return Schemes in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. Applications close on 3 February 2025.

There are two schemes – one in Scotland, and one across England and Northern Ireland. You can apply to manage one or both schemes.

To apply to manage the Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers, visit gov.uk to find out more about the role, requirements, and application process.

Benefits of a deposit return scheme 

The scheme, which was designed alongside Zero Waste Scotland, is expected to: 

  • reduce littering by a third 
  • increase recycling of single-use drinks containers to 90% 
  • reduce carbon emissions by 4 million tonnes over 25 years – the equivalent of taking 83,000 cars off the road 

Developing the deposit return scheme

A joint policy statement (April 2024) sets out to achieve maximum alignment across the schemes and make them as simple as possible for consumers and businesses across the UK.

The preparations we had put in place to deliver DRS in Scotland have helped inform an aligned approach with England and Northern Ireland, based on significant engagement and feedback from business.

We published a full business case setting out details of the proposed deposit return scheme in May 2019. This followed a public consultation in 2018.  

The policy was then developed with support from The Deposit Return Scheme Implementation Advisory Group. Group members provided industry experience and advice on practical issues relating to the operation of the scheme. 

The following documents outline the DRS development process: 

We will continue to engage constructively with industry and with other nations across the UK to support the delivery of a DRS in 2027.

Material scope of the deposit return scheme

We will continue to work constructively with the UK Government and Northern Ireland on the material scope of DRS and maintain our commitment to achieving high levels of glass recycling, and assess our progress towards environmental objectives.

Glass: approach

Including glass in DRS is the best way to achieve our 90% target glass recycling rate, as demonstrated by successful international scheme. Of the 55 schemes around the world, 48 include glass. 

Evidence from Zero Waste Scotland also shows there is a compelling environmental and economic business case for an ‘all-in’ scheme. 

The UK's decision to remove glass from its own scheme and refusal to agree a full Internal Market Act (IMA) exclusion meant that we were unable to launch Scotland’s DRS with glass in March 2024 as planned.  

We are committed to realising the economic and environmental benefits a DRS can bring and have therefore agreed to move forward with a DRS in Scotland that does not include glass on day one. 

Re-use and refill

Manufacturing and recycling of glass containers has a high carbon intensity, relative to other container types. Reuse and refill, rather than recycling, may be a comparatively better option for glass drinks containers. We also expect reuse and refill to have strong uptake with consumers. To support continued decarbonisation across the drinks sector, we will continue to work with other UK administrations and industry to explore opportunities for reuse.  

Legal framework 

We will make amending legislation where required to give effect to the policy positions set out in the Joint Policy Statement once the UKG has passed their legislation. Any such amending legislation will require approval by the Scottish Parliament.

The legal framework for the scheme was created by the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020, which were passed by the Scottish Parliament in May 2020.  The Regulations have been amended by the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Amendment Regulations 2022, the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Amendment Regulations 2023 and the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2023.  

Independent reviews  

A number of independent reviews have been conducted into DRS since 2021:  

Further information 

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