Rules by country / United Kingdom / UK deposit return scheme
UK deposit return scheme: what 20p a can does to your prices
From 1 October 2027 shoppers pay a 20p deposit on most drinks cans and plastic bottles, and get it back on return. A 24-can case costs £4.80 more at the till. We plan your prices and packs for it, and for the sugar levy changes three months later.
Producer fees are 0p until December 2028; the 2029 figures (about 0.6p a can and 2.3p a plastic bottle) are expected and due to be reconfirmed in May 2027.
A price and pack plan for the deposit
Your prices and packs for October 2027, planned with the sugar levy changes three months later, product by product and retailer by retailer.
- How shoppers switch between pack sizes when the till price jumps
- The best shelf price for each pack, with the deposit on top
- One plan for the deposit and the January 2028 levy changes, not two price rises
- A plan by retailer, and an Excel model to test other prices
How your results look
| Pack | Deposit at the till | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Cola, 24 x 330ml | +£4.80 | Hold the price, promote the 12-pack |
| Lemonade, 6 x 330ml | +£1.20 | Move to an 8-pack |
| Water, 500ml | +20p | Keep the price |
Fictional products. Every real result comes with the expected sales and profit, and a likely range.
Your options
Every option has a fixed price, agreed before we start.
Price and pack plan
- The deposit and best choice for each product
- Price plan for each retailer
- Scenario model and a walk-through
Pricing review with the deposit
- Everything in the deposit review
- Prices and promotions for the whole range
- How your products take sales from each other
Portfolio review
- Everything in the pricing review
- More retailers and data sources
- A plan for each channel
After the project: a refresh before each pricing round, from £2,000.
How it works
From the first call to your plan in about three weeks.
A free 15-minute call
Tell us about your range. We say whether a review would pay for itself, and quote a fixed price.
Your data
Sales by product and retailer, recipes and costs. We sign an NDA before anything moves.
Your plan
Prices and packs for the deposit and the levy changes, walked through with your team.
UK deposit return scheme: the detail
Open only what you need.
- Starts
- 1 October 2027
- Deposit
- 20p per container, refunded on return
- Containers
- Single-use PET plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans, 150ml to 3 litres; glass not included
- Wales
- Its own scheme from the same date, subject to the Senedd; glass collected, with no deposit for the first four years
- Producers
- Register with Exchange for Change, put the scheme logo and a returns barcode on each container, and report how many you sell
- Producer fees
- 0p from October 2027 to December 2028; from January 2029 expected about 0.6p per can and 2.3p per plastic bottle, to be reconfirmed in May 2027
Hold the price
Keep the shelf price and let the deposit show. Works when shoppers see past it.
Change the pack
20p is a bigger share of a small pack's price. Shift volume to sizes that carry it better.
Plan both together
One price move for October 2027 and January 2028, instead of two.
When does the UK deposit return scheme start?
On 1 October 2027 in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Wales plans its own scheme from the same date.
How much is the deposit on cans and bottles?
20p per single-use can or plastic bottle from 150ml to 3 litres, refunded when the empty is returned.
Is glass included in the deposit return scheme?
Not in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Wales collects glass, but with no deposit for the first four years.
What will drinks producers pay?
No producer fee from October 2027 to December 2028. From January 2029 the fees are expected to be about 0.6p per can and 2.3p per plastic bottle, to be reconfirmed in May 2027.
How much does a price and pack plan cost?
A plan for up to 10 products has a fixed price from £7,500 and takes about three weeks. For 11 to 50 products it costs around £17,500. It starts with a free 15-minute call.
- letsrecycle.com, Exchange for Change sets UK DRS producer fees
- letsrecycle.com, Wales to launch DRS in 2027 in line with rest of UK
Checked on 20 October 2026. Rules and rates change, so check the official source before making decisions. This page is not tax advice.