Apply to manage the Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers
About the Deposit Return Scheme and how to apply to be a deposit management organisation.
Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Scotland
Applications are now open to become a deposit management organisation (DMO) for the Deposit Return Schemes in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Applications close on Monday 3 February 2025.聽
Who can apply
Your organisation must be an independent, not-for-profit, private body.
There are 2 schemes 鈥� one across England and Northern Ireland, and one in Scotland. You can apply to manage one or both of the schemes.聽
If you apply to be the聽DMO聽for only one scheme, you must explain how this will work alongside the other scheme.聽
Role and responsibilities of the聽deposit management organisation
If you are successful, you will be selected as the聽DMO聽for the relevant Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). You will have obligations and powers under the relevant DRS regulations.
罢丑别听DMO聽is responsible for:
- running the DRS, including management and oversight of the material and financial flows
- producing and publishing technical information for businesses to prepare for the聽DRS
- engaging with industry to ensure information about聽DRS聽is easy to access
- communicating the DRS with consumers
- creating an easy process for users of the鈥�DRS鈥痶o raise queries
- meeting the collection targets laid down in the legislation
How to apply
颁辞苍迟补肠迟听DRS@defra.gov.uk聽to request the application documents.
We will reply within 3 working days with:
- the application form
- a guidance document to help you complete the form
Return the completed application form to us by Monday 3 February 2025. We reserve the right to extend the time frame for applications.
Selection process
We intend to select the DMOs in April 2025.
Your application will be evaluated fairly based on its merits and your organisation鈥檚 suitability for appointment as the聽DMO. This includes how you will:
- meet your responsibilities under each of the regulations
- establish the scheme in the relevant nations
- operate a consistent scheme across the 3 nations as far as possible
We may request additional information from you, following an initial assessment of applications.
We will then score applications numerically based on a standardised scoring system. This allows comparability if we receive several applications.
We will use the score to support a recommendation to ministers about the DMO 补辫辫辞颈苍迟尘别苍迟.听
About the Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers聽
The UK government is working with the Scottish government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme in October 2027.聽
The scheme will introduce a refundable deposit on some drinks containers. It aims to:
- reduce litter
- increase recycling rates
- create high-quality recycled materials that drinks producers can use again
.
Drinks containers included in the scheme聽
The scheme will include drinks containers from 150ml to 3 litres made from:
- polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic
- steel
- aluminium
Why the scheme is needed
We estimate that approximately 4 billion plastic and 2.5 billion metal drinks containers are not recycled every year across the UK. (Figures based on the Valpak Baseline Modelling placed on market figures and recycling rates.)
When drinks containers go to landfill or are sent for incineration, they release polluting greenhouse gases. The materials are lost, so new containers must be made from virgin materials. The extraction of these virgin materials also generates polluting emissions.聽聽
Once the scheme is introduced, we expect to collect at least 90% of in-scope drinks containers by year 3. This will boost recycling rates and reduce littering.
The scheme will also result in cleaner recycled materials. This will mean drinks containers can be remade into more drinks containers. DMOs will have first refusal to reuse any collected drinks containers.
Government and regulator responsibilities
Working with regulators from respective nations, the government:
- develops the regulations for the聽DRS聽and appoints the聽DMO
- monitors and manages scheme performance
The regulators manage compliance and enforcement of regulations relevant to their nation.
Both government and regulators are responsible for answering questions on legal definitions and details about the regulations. They are also both responsible for supporting the successful establishment of the scheme by the DMO.
More information
For more information about the scheme, read about the: