A Deposit & Return Scheme (DRS), also known as a deposit refund system, applies a surcharge to a product when it is purchased. A rebate is given to the consumer if that product is returned. In this instance, a refund will be given when a reusable drinks container is returned for recycling.
When the DRS for Scotland was previously intended to be introduced in 2024, a 20p deposit was going to be charged to consumers. These deposits were to be refunded at any return point regardless of the point of purchase.
It is hoped that the introduction of a DRS will help to reduce littering by offering consumers a financial incentive to recycle drinks containers at a specified location for recycling. It is hoped deposit return systems can help raise the recycling of single-use drinks containers in the UK to rates in excess of 90%, as seen in European nations where they are well established.
These systems are designed to encourage behaviour change to stop littering at source and capture valuable resources.