Exchange for Change announces a UK-wide recycling infrastructure to support the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) set to launch in October 2027, with the Deposit Management Organisation coordinating the rollout across all four nations.

Five waste management and recycling firms have been appointed to collect and process drinks containers under the DRS ahead of its October 2027 launch, forming a brokered network to enable efficient collection and processing.

CIRQLR is assigned to the East Central, South, and South East regions, working with retailers, shoppers, and manufacturers to deliver the DRS.

SUEZ will cover the North-East, North-West, West-Central, and South-West England; CIRQLR will serve East Central, South, and South East England; Re.Group covers Scotland with Hargreaves Services; Bywaters serves London; Re-Gen covers Northern Ireland.

Five providers are delivering logistics and processing services across the UK for the DRS, with regional assignments announced as part of the scheme rollout.

Exchange for Change Chief Executive Russell Davies describes the appointments as a milestone for transforming recycling, building resilient infrastructure, and creating regional jobs and opportunities.

The winners of the DRS logistics and processing tenders have been announced, with regional allocations to the five selected companies.

Approximately 400 new recycling collection vehicles are expected to be mobilised to support DRS material collection nationwide.

From October 2027, a 20p deposit will apply to single-use beverage containers ranging from 150ml to 3 litres, refundable when returned at participating points.

Investments will fund multiple new processing facilities and jobs, including several dedicated DRS processing facilities planned for 2030 and additional processing lines, with a shared-use facility in Avonmouth and new sites in Ely, Knowsley, and Avonmouth by October 2030.

The programme anticipates around 700 new jobs and six dedicated DRS processing facilities across Scotland, Scunthorpe, Guildford, Isle of Dogs, Newry, plus a shared plastics facility and additional sites in Ely, Knowsley, and Avonmouth.

The partners will manage collection of returned bottles and cans and process them to enable recycling into new drinks containers, with UK waste data showing significant potential for higher return rates compared with some European DRS systems.