Paid recycling is coming to the UK – here's how it will work

British people will be able cash to recycle plastic and metal bottles and cans under a new bottle-return scheme set to come into force in 2027.

People will be paid to recycle bottles and cans from October 2027. (Getty)
People will be paid to recycle bottles and cans from October 2027. (Getty)

Britons will be given a cash incentive to recycle plastic and metal bottles and cans under a new bottle-return scheme set to come into force in 2027.

The scheme will mirror successful ones in 50 other countries including Germany and Sweden, where members of the public pay a deposit on drinks bottles, which is then refunded when bottles are turned in for recycling.

In England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, consumers buy an estimated 30 billion single-use drinks containers each year – including 12 billion plastic drinks bottles and 13 billion drinks cans.

Around 6.5 billion single-use drinks bottles and cans per year go to waste rather than being recycled, and many of these are littered.

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Research from the Marine Conservation Society found that 97% of surveyed beaches were polluted with drinks-related items in 2023.

Under the deposit return scheme, buyers of soft drinks will be charged a small fee when they buy disposable bottles.

This fee is then returned when the bottle is handed in at a designated collection point, which will be installed at public places like supermarkets.

UK's first public Deposit Return Scheme machine, Canary Wharf, London England UK
The UK's first public deposit return scheme machine at Canary Wharf in London. (Getty)

Such schemes tend to be very successful in persuading people to recycle bottles, with the materials then used to be recycled into new drinks containers.

The average return rate for European countries with a DRS is 90%, according to environmental group global eNGO Reloop – with Germany's return rate as high as 98%.

The first UK deposit return scheme is thought to have been installed at Canary Wharf in east London in 2018.

The DRS will be introduced in October 2027 in England and Northern Ireland.

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The legislation came into force this week, allowing for the appointment of the scheme administrator – known as the deposit management organisation – in April 2025, which will be a not-for-profit, industry-led body responsible for the administration and day-to-day running of the DRS.

Scotland is working on its own version of a deposit return scheme, the introduction of which has been delayed previously but is now expected to have similar requirements.

Meanwhile, Wales has decided not to join a UK-wide return scheme for bottles and cans and will run its own instead.

Most small bottles and aluminium cans that people would buy in a shop will be affected.

Anything from 150ml to three-litre single-use drinks containers made from plastic and metal will be included in the scheme.

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