UK Government announce Deposit Return Scheme go-live date of 2027 with glass to be excluded

The UK Government, led by Robbie Moore, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Water and Rural Growth, announced on 25th April a revised timeline for the launch of a nationwide Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) by October 2027.

The scheme was originally due to launch in October 2025. However, The parliamentary Under Secretary of State stated that this would not be possible and additional time would be needed to ensure an effective delivery of the scheme.

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State also stated glass will not be included arguing that including glass in any UK DRS will create undue complexity for the for the and it increases storage and handling costs for retailers. Glass is also littered less than other products. The Scottish Government have agreed to commence DRS in Scotland on this same basis to ensure the schemes move forward.

You can view the full statement from The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Water and Rural Growth here.

The department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) published a DRS Policy Statement which revealed key information regarding the design of the scheme.