The Fed Welcomes Confirmation of DRS Deposit at 20p

The Fed has welcomed the confirmation from Exchange for Change – the non-profit industry-led body which is going to deliver and administer the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for Recycling, when it launches in October next year – that plastic bottles and cans will be subject to a 20p deposit as part of the DRS scheme.

The 20p figure was decided after consideration of a 10p or 30p amount.

The Fed’s National President Hetal Patel said: “The Fed is pleased that this has now been confirmed. All the evidence from retail engagement in the UK and from other countries already applying DRS around the world indicates it has been set at a sensible level. This will provide customers with a positive nudge to return their bottles and cans so they can be recycled, reducing waste.”

Russell Davies, Exchange for Change CEO said: “The deposit value is a pivotal part of how the deposit return scheme will work in practice. That’s why we’ve engaged widely with industry, undertaken extensive market research and in-depth analysis on how schemes work in other countries. This work has identified that a flat 20p deposit is the most proportionate and sustainable amount for the UK.

Meanwhile, the Fed continues to engage actively on DRS – serving on Exchange for Change’s Advisory Board – and is calling for DRS to be “revenue-neutral” for retailers, with a generous handling fee and a system of grants to help small shops prepare for the change next year.