A bottle-return scheme where people will be paid to hand in plastic, steel or aluminium for recycling at a collection point is scheduled to come into force in England and Northern Ireland in 2027.
The scheme mimics those seen in 50 countries around the world — allowing members of the public to be rewarded for cleaning up their streets.
Countries such as Germany, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland have successfully implemented schemes, ensuring valuable materials are collected, recycled and made back into new drinks containers – a truly circular approach easily grasped by the public.
Ministers have pledged to end a “throwaway society” with laws paving the way for a bottle-return scheme coming into force on Monday.
New parliamentary regulations have now been introduced to enable the appointment of a managing body for the scheme in April this year ahead of its scheduled launch in October 2027.
What is the bottle-return scheme?
The UK Government has looked to countries such as Germany, Sweden and Ireland, the former of which has seen an estimated 98 per cent return rate under its own deposit return scheme (DRS), in developing the programme.
The European-style initiative will see people charged a deposit when buying a plastic, steel or aluminium container before receiving the money back when they hand it in for recycling at a collection point.
It is not known at this point what the deposit charge will be.
Ministers hope the scheme, covering England and Northern Ireland, will reduce littering in waterways and on streets, boost recycling and help protect wildlife.
When will it be implemented?
The scheme is set to launch in England and Northern Ireland in October 2027.
Why is this needed?
Research by the Marine Conservation Society showed 97 per cent of surveyed UK beaches were polluted with drinks-related items in 2023, while the Government estimates 6.5 billion single-use containers go to waste in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland annually.
Environment minister Mary Creagh said: “This Government will clean up Britain and end the throwaway society.
“This is a vital step as we stop the avalanche of rubbish that is filling up our streets, rivers and oceans and protect our treasured wildlife. Turning trash into cash also delivers on our Plan for Change by kickstarting clean growth, ensuring economic stability, more resilient supply chains and new green jobs.”
Northern Ireland environment minister Andrew Muir, said: “I have ambitious goals to protect our climate, drive green growth and reduce unnecessary waste. The creation of a deposit return scheme plays a key part in delivering those goals.
“The introduction of the new parliamentary regulations is a significant step in that process and signals our commitment to move forward together to make those ambitions a reality.”
Why is this only England and Northern Ireland?
The Scottish Government is expected to align its DRS to match the one backed by MPs.
The Welsh Government pulled out of the UK-wide approach last year and has always maintained that glass would be part of its scheme.
Has there been opposition?
Opposition critics have said the scheme will damage businesses and increase the burden on consumers.
Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said: “Labour’s levy on packaging is another cost for hard-pressed families, pushing up the price of the weekly shop.
“This Government talks about growth, but words are cheap. When you look at their actions, every day they are shackling our economy with higher taxes and more red tape on business.
“Under new leadership, the Conservatives are unafraid to call out schemes dreamed up in Whitehall that will do more harm than good.”
