The scheme will see collection points set up across the country where people can come and drop off empty plastic waste so it can be recycled – with these points to be at major UK supermarkets
UK households will soon be paid for bringing back old plastic bottles to supermarkets across England under a new law to tackle plastic waste.
The government has pledged to “clean up Britain” through the launch of a new deposit return scheme for plastic bottles and cans. The scheme will see collection points set up across the country where people can drop off empty plastic waste to be recycled.
These collection points will be across a number of places, with many set to be at major UK supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.
To encourage households to get involved, the scheme would give households a “financial incentive” to return the empty containers. However, what this financial incentive will be has not yet been confirmed.
The deposit return scheme is already used in more than 50 countries worldwide, including Germany, Sweden, and the Republic of Ireland. The government says the average return rate for countries offering this scheme sits at 90% – with Germany showing the best results with a rate of 98%.
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It is estimated that consumers across England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland buy around 30 billion single-use drink containers, including 12 billion plastic bottles and 13 billion cans, every year. Of these, around 6.5 billion single-use bottles and cans a year go to waste rather than being recycled, with the majority littering UK streets.
The aim is that the financial incentive of this scheme will help reduce this number. The scheme is due to launch in October 2027 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and will include 150ml to three-litre single use plastic and metal drinks containers. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said Scotland’s regulations are also progressing.
The government was set to appoint the scheme’s organisation in April 2025; however, this has not yet been confirmed. The group leading the scheme will be a not-for-profit, industry-led which will be the body responsible for the administration and day-to-day running of the scheme.
Circular Economy 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.”
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