Exchange for Change has confirmed that a flat 20p deposit will apply to all in-scope containers when the Deposit Return Scheme launches across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland in October 2027.

Exchange for Change has published a material specification outlining the technical requirements for drinks containers included in the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), as industry prepares for the scheme’s launch in October 2027.

Exchange For Change plans to allocate £60 million in grants over the first three years of the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) to support small, independent retailers with the rollout of reverse vending machines (RVMs).

Exchange for Change has appointed five senior leaders to its executive team as it prepares for the launch of the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland in October 2027.

From launch, the Welsh DRS will cover single-use PET plastic bottles, aluminium and steel cans and glass bottles.

The Vending & Automated Retail Association (AVA) has welcomed the UK government’s announcement of the deposit return scheme’s official name, Exchange for Change, as consultation on the scheme continues.

The UK Deposit Management Organisation (UK DMO) has unveiled Exchange for Change as its new trading name, marking a key step in preparations for the launch of the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme.

Austria’s nationwide Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has completed its first year with strong public support and impressive collection results, surpassing 1.2 billion returned PET bottles and aluminium cans by the end of November.

Bixolon Europe has partnered with Polish IT company iMedia and systems integrator Hant to supply receipt printing technology for GreenBottle, a nationwide network of reverse vending machines collecting PET bottles and cans.

Poland is set to launch a nationwide deposit return system (DRS) in 2026, and reverse vending machine manufacturer Rekbot has partnered with industrial computing specialist Arbor to accelerate deployment of its new technology.

Refreshment brings you monthly updates on the latest news and insights from our member associations in the vending, coffee and water sectors.

After years of consultation, delay and debate, the UK government has officially confirmed that a deposit return scheme (DRS) will launch in England and Northern Ireland on 1 October 2027.