Materials specification guidance for the UK's Deposit Return Scheme
Exchange for Change's drinks containers specification is designed to support industry readiness, recycling and materials recovery.
Exchange for Change is delivering the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, setting out the criteria for packaging to be accepted by reverse vending machines (RVMs).
The document provides clarity on any packaging changes needed ahead of the DRS being implemented from October 2027, covering containers made of PET plastic, aluminium and steel, ranging from 150ml to three litres.
It also outlines specific requirements for barcodes and product identification to ensure containers can be efficiently processed by RVMs and the wider collection network, as well as low-volume product exemptions to reduce impacts on small-scale producers.
Producers must register products before the scheme goes live, with clear timelines to support onboarding and testing.
Exchange for Change’s full specification is accompanied by supporting resources to help producers understand and implement the requirements.
