Draft:Exchange for Change
UK container deposit scheme
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Exchange for Change (EfC) is the name of the UKs deposit return scheme (DRS) that will be introduced in October 2027[1] by the UK Deposit Management Organisation (UK DMO) - A not-for-profit private entity solicited by HM Government[2] - Which employs "Exchange for Change" as both the name of the scheme and the trading name of the UK DMO. It will be similar in nature to the German deposit scheme, except that it will initially focus on drinks containers only, and glass containers will not be a part of the scheme except in Wales[3].
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Simple overview
Upon introduction of the scheme, products that are supplied in "In-scope" containers (This meaning containers that are covered by the scheme, described below) will attract a deposit on the container that will be paid at point-of-sale along with and additional to the cost of the product, and this deposit will be returned to the consumer upon return of the container to a designated collection point. In most cases this will take the form of the consumer inserting their returned container(s) into a Reverse vending machine (Typically found inside supermarkets) which will produce a coupon to the value of the deposits returned, which may be used for payment or exchanged for cash at the place where those coupons were obtained.
UK DRS history and policy
Solicitations for an organisation to act as the UK DMO were invited by HM Government in December 2024[2] and followed-up with the publication of guidance for stakeholders[4] in January 2025. A policy statement[5] clarifying the roadmap toward implementation of the UK DRS was then published in May 2025. The scheme has been legislated for in England and Northern Ireland[6] and Scotland[7] under which the powers to levy deposits on, and pay deposits for, "In-scope" containers have been enabled under applicable laws. The scheme will also cover Wales under separate legislation to be passed by the Welsh Senedd prior to the date of introduction.[1][3]
Deposit per container
At point of drafting there is anecdotal information (Based on web searches yielding only speculative information) that the deposit may be set at 20p per container, but this will be formally confirmed by EfC in "Q2 2026"[8] (Likely around June or July of that year) and may be subject to change. However this keeps relative parity in value to the €0,30 deposit charged on similar containers in many European countries.
In-scope containers
Upon introduction of the scheme, Exchange for Change will focus only on drinks containers made of three specific materials[9]:
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, commonly for carbonated and soft drinks,
- Aluminium and Steel drinks cans, commonly for soft and alcoholic drinks.
Other containers (e.g: Those used for products other than drinks e.g. canned soup) will not be "In-scope" containers (Meaning those which the DRS accepts) and will be "Out-of-scope" containers that will not be a part of the scheme, and for which deposits will not be taken. Glass containers will only be "In-scope" containers in Wales[1][3], and the DRS will not apply to glass containers sold or returned in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland. This means that "In-scope" glass containers sold in Wales will attract a DRS deposit that can only be reclaimed if the container is also returned in Wales.
In-scope containers can be identified by the fact that they will bear the DRS scheme mark - A graphic that loosely resembles a bottle separated into parts (Intended to convey the message Container -> Return -> Value[10]) - Upon them, usually close to the products EAN or UPC code.
To be returned for their deposits containers must be empty, in sufficiently clean and intact condition with legible barcodes[11] and must not be cut or crushed. Non cylindrical containers might not be returnable via reverse vending machines, and may need to be returned through a manually operated Return Point.[9][11]