Drinks producers will face no per-container fees during the first 15 months of the UK’s upcoming Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), under new proposals announced by the scheme administrator coordinator, Exchange for Change. The planned structure sets producer fees at 0p from the scheme’s launch in October 2027 until December 2028. Following this initial grace period, charges are forecast to start at 0.6p per aluminium or steel container, with PET plastic fees to be finalised.
This proposed fee holiday is designed to ease the financial and administrative transition for beverage brands and packaging converters as they adapt to the new infrastructure. Implementing a DRS is a complex logistical challenge, and high upfront fees risk stifling industry compliance. By delaying the introduction of these charges, coordinators aim to secure industry buy-in, stabilise supply chains, and prevent sudden consumer price hikes during the critical early rollout phase.
For UK packaging converters, this delay provides a vital buffer to redesign packaging lines, update labelling, and adjust cost models without immediate financial penalties. UK waste management companies will see a phased shift in material flows, as DRS-eligible PET bottles and cans gradually exit household kerbside collections and move into dedicated DRS return streams. For Turkish recyclers importing UK post-consumer plastics, this transition period is equally crucial. A smoother, less disruptive DRS launch in the UK reduces the risk of sudden supply shocks for high-quality rPET feedstock, ensuring a more predictable flow of clean material to Turkish processing facilities.
The practical takeaway for the industry is that this fee holiday must not be mistaken for a delay in the scheme itself. Packaging converters and brand owners should use this 15-month window to fully align their labelling, barcode registration, and material specifications with DRS requirements, ensuring complete compliance before the fees are introduced in late 2028.
