UK Deposit Management Organisation Ltd (UK DMO) has been announced as the operator of the deposit return schemes for single-use plastic and metal drinks containers in Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland.
The appointment in England and Northern Ireland was made by the UK Government, whilst Scottish ministers also decided that UK DMO should be designated as the DRS scheme administrator in the country.
UK DMO is a not-for-profit organisation created to deliver one of the most significant environmental infrastructure programmes in a generation across Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland. Once launched, the deposit return schemes will look to cut litter, boost recycling, and reduce carbon emissions.
According to a report from The Countryside Charity, introducing DRS is expected to create up to 4,000 jobs across the UK and will bring significant investment in infrastructure required to deliver the scheme including storage, logistics, and reprocessing.
UK DMO said it will now begin engaging with partners including the three governments, business, including drinks producers and retailers, consumer and environmental groups to design and operate a scheme which works for everyone. Producers, retailers and other interested parties are encouraged to visit the UK DMO website and register their interest.
The organisation is governed by a board that brings together voices from across the drinks and retail sector across all three nations. Members have been nominated by trade associations representing both large and small producers, major supermarkets, small convenience stores and wholesalers from across England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Recruitment is also underway for an independent chair and non-executive directors.
The board includes experienced figures from companies including Shepley Spring, Radnor Hills, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Heineken UK, Lidl, Tesco, and Co-op. Many of the board members bring experience working in international markets where deposit return schemes are already in place.
UK DMO will be responsible for designing and operating the systems that make the scheme work – from producer registration to logistics, finance, fraud prevention. and public communications.
In a joint statement, the UK DMO board said, “DRS is an opportunity to deliver a transformational step forward in the circular economy in the UK and the appointment of the DMO is a major milestone in that journey. We don’t underestimate the scale of the challenge, but our aim is simple – to build a system that’s fair, efficient and easy to use. Our work is already underway, and we’ll be working closely with governments, businesses of all sizes, environmental groups and consumer bodies to move forward as quickly as possible.”
UK DMO has been tasked by the three governments with delivering a Deposit Return Scheme to go live in October 2027. From that date, when people buy drinks containers made from PET plastic, steel, and aluminium between 150ml and 3 litres, they will pay a small deposit – which they will get back in full when they return the empty container for recycling.
British Soft Drinks association director general, Gavin Partington, added, “The British Soft Drinks Association welcomes the UK Government’s appointment of UK Deposit Management Organisation Ltd as scheme administrator for its Deposit Return Scheme. This appointment marks a key milestone in realising the opportunities of a more circular economy, driving £1.13bn of industry investment over the next three years and creating more than 4,000 jobs across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The British soft drinks industry looks forward to playing our part in ensuring successful delivery of a DRS by October 2027.”
The Federation of Wholesale Distributors and the Scottish Wholesale Association jointly commented, “The wholesale sector welcomes the announcement of the appointment of the Deposit Return Scheme Deposit Management Organisation. This is a significant step forward in progressing a workable and effective DRS across the UK.
“We are pleased the wholesale sector is represented on the DMO Board, ensuring our voice and the interests of wholesalers operating across the UK, is heard at the highest level. Our engagement will be constructive and grounded in the operational knowledge and experience of our members.
“It is vital that the unique challenges faced by wholesale businesses, as both distributors, producers and as retailers are recognised and addressed in a practical and proportionate manner by the DMO. Our priority remains ensuring a DRS that is both environmentally effective and commercially workable for our sector.”
Scottish Grocers’ Federation chief executive, Dr Pete Cheema OBE, added, “SGF understands how important DRS will be for our members and for promoting sustainability across Scotland and the UK. That is why we worked closely with the Scottish Government and stakeholders throughout the development of the Scottish DRS.
“Our engagement with DEFRA and the Advisory Council to establish the DMO has been positive, and we look forward to working closely with the new administration team in the coming months and years. Now that the DMO is in place, it provides an important opportunity for our members to address any concerns they have as early as possible and help build confidence in the scheme. Making sure that retailers have all the information they need about the options available to them.
“SGF will also continue to meet with the DRS team in the Scottish Government, and our colleagues across the Scottish sector, to support the delivery of a fully fit for purpose scheme that works for all parts of the supply chain.
Elise Seibold, chief operating officer at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, said, “The appointment of the UK DMO is another significant step towards a circular economy for drinks containers. Through cross industry collaboration, we show our commitment to delivering a scheme that works for everyone – drinks producers, consumers and retailers. As well as long term benefits such as reduced litter and increased recycling rates, an October 2027 DRS is also a critical step for businesses, and the UK, to achieve net zero. Together we can create a scheme that reduces waste, fosters sustainable habits and sets a global standard for environmental leadership.
Anne Godfrey, CEO of GS1 UK the non-profit providing the standards behind the world’s barcodes, said, “The appointment of a Deposit Management Organisation marks a pivotal moment in the UK’s journey towards building a truly circular economy. GS1 UK welcomes this announcement and the renewed momentum it will bring to the implementation of harmonised Deposit Return Schemes across the four nations.
“As part of the organisation behind the global standards that underpin retail and supply chain interoperability, we have long advocated for a DRS that is unified, efficient and digitally enabled. A consistent, data-driven system, underpinned by open standards such as GS1 barcodes and QR codes, will be critical in ensuring transparency, traceability and ease of use for both businesses and consumers.
“We encourage the newly appointed DMO to work closely with industry and solution providers to ensure interoperability is at the heart of scheme design. Leveraging GS1 standards will not only simplify the return process, it will unlock opportunities for innovation—such as Digital DRS models—that can enhance consumer engagement and system efficiency.
“GS1 UK stands ready to collaborate with the DMO and industry stakeholders to help deliver a future-proofed, scalable solution that supports sustainability while minimising disruption to businesses. This is a landmark step in the right direction. Let’s ensure we make the most of it together.”
