Exchange for Change has appointed five waste management and recycling companies to provide logistics and processing services for the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), as preparations continue ahead of its launch in October 2027.

The industry-led organisation said the network will create a resilient and scalable recycling infrastructure across the UK, with the investment expected to generate around 700 new jobs and unlock millions of pounds in new recycling infrastructure.

The appointed providers are SUEZ, which will cover the North East, North West, West Central and South West regions of England; CIRQLR, covering the East Central, South and South East; Re.Group, which will operate in Scotland in partnership with Hargreaves Services; Bywaters, covering London; and Re-Gen, which will provide services in Northern Ireland.

Under the agreements, three dedicated DRS processing facilities will be established in Scotland, Scunthorpe and Guildford, alongside dedicated DRS processing lines in the Isle of Dogs and Newry. A shared-use plastics recycling facility in Avonmouth will also support the scheme.

These facilities are expected to be operational when the DRS launches in October 2027. A further three purpose-built processing facilities are planned for Ely in Cambridgeshire, Knowsley in Merseyside and Avonmouth, with these expected to become operational from October 2030.

Around 400 new recycling vehicles are also expected to be mobilised to collect DRS materials from return points across the UK.

From October 2027, the UK DRS will introduce a 20p deposit in single-use PET plastic, aluminium and steel drink containers between 150ml and 3 litres. Consumers will be able to reclaim the deposit by returning eligible containers to designated return points.

Exchange For Change said its logistics and processing partners will collect returned containers and process the material for recycling into new drink containers.

The organisation estimates that more than 6.5 billion cans and bottles currently become waste rather than being recycled in the UK each year. By comparison, it said countries operating DRSs achieve average return rates of around 90%.

Russell Davies, chief executive of Exchange For Change, said: “The Deposit Return Scheme will transform how the UK recycles. This is not only about preventing waste from polluting ur towns, countryside, rivers and beaches, but also about investing for the long term in new environmental infrastructure, jobs and opportunities across the UK.”

Davies added that the five waste management companies would create a ‘resilient and scalable collections network’ for the collection and processing of DRS materials.

The infrastructure announcement comes alongside the opening of Phase 1 registration for businesses that will participate in the scheme.

The organisation has now opened registration for producers and retailer return points ahead of its October 2027 launch.

Businesses required to register as a producer, return point operator or both can now create an account through Exchange For Change’s registration portal and complete the first phase of the process.

Phase 2 registration is due to open in January 2027.

Certain retailers will be exempt from operating a return point. Urban retailers with a retail space below 100m² are automatically exempt and do not need to register unless they intend to offer a return point.

Davies said: “We encourage businesses to complete Phase 1 as soon as possible and will continue to provide guidance and support throughout the registration process as preparations for scheme go-live progress.

The organisation has also published guidance on material requirements for drink containers, producers' fees, return point exemptions and grant funding for small independent retailers.

The UK DRS will cover drinks containers made from PET plastic, steel and aluminium between 150ml and 3 litres. In Wales, the scheme will also cover glass containers, although no deposit will be applied to glass containers during the first four years of the scheme.