The Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (England and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025

1. Introductory Text

2. Part 1 Introductory

   1. 1. Citation and commencement

   2. 2. Extent and application

3. Part 2 Interpretation

   1. 3. Meaning of “drink”

   2. 4. Meaning of “deposit item”, “scheme producer”, “scheme retailer”, “scheme supplier”, “supply” and related matters

   3. 5. Meaning of “established in the United Kingdom”

   4. 6. Meaning of “established in the Republic of Ireland”

   5. 7. The refund

   6. 8. General interpretation

4. Part 3 Establishment of a Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers

   1. 9. Establishment of Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers in England and Northern Ireland

   2. 10. Circumstances in which a person is not entitled to a relevant amount for a returnable item

5. Part 4 Scheme producers

   1. Chapter 1 Registration, information and related matters

      1. 11. Requirement for scheme producers to be registered to supply SP container drinks

      2. 12. Register of registered scheme producers

      3. 13. Requirement for registered scheme producers to keep records about supply of SP container drinks

      4. 14. Deposit management organisation: power to obtain information from registered scheme producers

      5. 15. Persons ceasing to be registered scheme producers: cancellation of registration

      6. 16. Persons ceasing to be registered scheme producers: continuing duties and requirements to record and provide information.

      7. 17. Persons ceasing to be registered scheme producers: updating of the SP register

   2. Chapter 2 Low volume lines

      1. 18. Registration of a product line as a “low volume line”

      2. 19. Cancellation of registration of a product line as a “low volume line”

      3. 20. Registration of a product line as a “low volume line”: updates to the SP register

   3. Chapter 3 Payments to the deposit management organisation

      1. 21. Producer registration fees

      2. 22. Deposits

6. Part 5 Scheme suppliers

   1. 23. Prohibition on supply of drinks produced etc. by a scheme producer who is not registered with the deposit management organisation

   2. 24. Labelling of deposit items and scheme multipacks

   3. 25. Labelling of registered low volume products

   4. 26. Duty to display information about the Scheme

   5. 27. Duty to display information about registered low volume products

   6. 28. Requirement to charge a deposit

   7. 29. Duty to display information at or on opted-out premises

   8. 30. Deposit management organisation: power to obtain information from scheme suppliers

7. Part 6 Return of returnable items

   1. Chapter 1 Items subject to overseas schemes

      1. 31. Direction specifying an overseas scheme for the purposes of these Regulations

      2. 32. Determination of overseas refund amount

      3. 33. The amount of the additional scheme refund: supplementary provisions

   2. Chapter 2 Mandatory return points

      1. 34. Requirement for in-scope retailers to operate a return point at, on or from MRP premises

      2. 35. Exemption for small groceries retailers in urban areas

      3. 36. Requirement for groceries retailers to provide information at or on retail premises without a return point

   3. Chapter 3 Voluntary operation of return points

      1. 37. Interpretation

      2. 38. Voluntary return points

      3. 39. Operation of return points by the deposit management organisation

   4. Chapter 4 Information to be provided at return points

      1. 40. Information to be provided at a return point

   5. Chapter 5 Take-back services and deposit management organisation collections

      1. 41. Provision of take-back services

      2. 42. Information about take-back services

      3. 43. Collection or acceptance of returnable items by the deposit management organisation

   6. Chapter 6 Register of return point operators, register of deposit management organisation return points, register of return point exemptions and register of take-back service providers

      1. 44. Register of return point operators and deposit management organisation return points

      2. 45. The register of return point exemptions

      3. 46. The register of take-back service providers

   7. Chapter 7 General obligations of scheme collectors

      1. 47. Form of return amount

      2. 48. Requirement for return point operators to retain returnable items

      3. 49. Requirement for take-back service providers to retain or return returnable items

8. Part 7 The scheme administrator: the deposit management organisation

   1. Chapter 1 Appointment and governance

      1. 50. The deposit management organisation

      2. 51. Conditions

      3. 52. Operational plan

      4. 53. Annual reports

      5. 54. Reserve fund

   2. Chapter 2 Scheme logo, scheme packaging logo and scheme return code

      1. 55. Scheme logo and scheme packaging logo

      2. 56. Publication of scheme logo and scheme packaging logo

      3. 57. Scheme return code

      4. 58. Agreement on a common scheme logo, scheme packaging logo, and scheme return code

   3. Chapter 3 The deposit

      1. 59. Requirement to determine the amount of the deposit

      2. 60. Determination of revised deposit level

      3. 61. The amount of the deposit: supplementary provisions

      4. 62. Use of amounts received as deposits

   4. Chapter 4 Fees for registration

      1. 63. Registration fees for scheme producers

      2. 64. Use of registration fees

   5. Chapter 5 Review of operation of return points and collection etc. of returnable items

      1. 65. Review of operation of return points

      2. 66. Collection etc. of returnable items from scheme collectors and retailers and connected payment

      3. 67. The handling payment

   6. Chapter 6 Recycling of in-scope materials

      1. 68. Recycling of in-scope material from returned refund items

      2. 69. Recycling of in-scope material from other returned items

      3. 70. Amounts received in connection with arrangements made under regulation 68 or 69

   7. Chapter 7 National enforcement authorities

      1. 71. Amounts to be paid to the national enforcement authorities

      2. 72. Information about returns data

      3. 73. Co-operation

   8. Chapter 8 Working with other scheme administrators

      1. 74. Co-operation and joint working

      2. 75. Payments to other scheme administrators

   9. Chapter 9 Review of decisions

      1. 76. Internal review of decisions made by the deposit management organisation

      2. 77. Internal review: procedure

      3. 78. Status of certain decisions pending outcome of internal review

   10. Chapter 10 Revocation of a person’s appointment as the deposit management organisation

       1. 79. Revocation of a person’s appointment as the deposit management organisation

       2. 80. Interim scheme administrator

9. Part 8 Targets

   1. 81. Collection targets: the deposit management organisation

10. Part 9 Enforcement

    1. Chapter 1 Interpretation

       1. 82. Interpretation of Part 9

    2. Chapter 2 Enforcement powers

       1. 83. Enforcement powers: England

       2. 84. Enforcement powers: Northern Ireland

       3. 85. Information

    3. Chapter 3 Offences

       1. 86. Obstructing an authorised person

       2. 87. Failure to comply with civil sanction

       3. 88. Liability of directors etc.

    4. Chapter 4 Civil sanctions

       1. 89. Interpretation

       2. 90. Civil sanctions: introductory

       3. 91. Enforcement cost recovery notices

       4. 92. Penalties and costs received under this Part

       5. 93. Withdrawing or amending a notice

    5. Chapter 5 Public register

       1. 94. Publication of enforcement action in public register

       2. 95. Spent convictions of individuals

11. Part 10 Appeals

    1. 96. Interpretation of Part 10

    2. 97. Right of appeal

    3. 98. Procedure on appeal

    4. 99. Status pending appeal: decision to revoke a person’s appointment as the deposit management organisation

    5. 100. Determination of appeals

12. Part 11 Functions of the national enforcement authorities

    1. 101. Operational plans

    2. 102. Enforcement

    3. 103. Co-operation with deposit management organisations

    4. 104. Annual reports from deposit management organisations

    5. 105. Monitoring functions

    6. 106. Monitoring reports

    7. 107. Appeals

13. Part 12 Review

    1. 108. Review

14. Signature

15. Schedules

    1. Schedule 1

       Scheme producers: registration with the deposit management organisation

       1. Part 1 Registration

          1. 1. Interpretation of Part 1

          2. 2. Registration application

          3. 3. Decision on registration application

          4. 4. Requirement to notify the deposit management organisation of changes in registration information

       2. Part 2 Cancellation of registration

          1. 5. Cancellation of registration on the request of the registered person

          2. 6. Deposit management organisation’s power to cancel registration

    2. Schedule 2

       Registration of mandatory return point operators

       1. 1. Interpretation

       2. 2. Application for registration

       3. 3. Application for registration: decision

       4. 4. Cancellation of registration

    3. Schedule 3

       Return point exemptions

       1. 1. Interpretation of Schedule 3

       2. 2. Applications for return point exemptions

       3. 3. Decision on applications for return point exemptions

       4. 4. Effect of making an application for a return point exemption: applications ongoing on 1st October 2027

       5. 5. Effect of making an application for a return point exemption: person becoming an in-scope retailer on or after 1st October 2027

       6. 6. Duration, and renewal, of a return point exemption

       7. 7. Duty to notify the deposit management organisation of a relevant change of circumstances

       8. 8. Revocation of a return point exemption at the request of the exemption holder

       9. 9. Revocation of a return point exemption on initiative of the deposit management organisation

    4. Schedule 4

       Voluntary operation of return points and provision of take-back services

       1. Part 1 Introductory

          1. 1. Interpretation of Schedule 4

       2. Part 2 Application for authorisation to operate a return point

          1. 2. Application for authorisation to operate a return point at or on any in-scope premises

          2. 3. Decision on application

          3. 4. Duration of a person’s authorisation to operate a return point

       3. Part 3 Authorisation of a scheme retailer as a take-back service provider

          1. 5. Authorisation of a scheme retailer as a take-back service provider

          2. 6. Decision on application

          3. 7. Duration of a scheme retailer’s authorisation as a take-back service provider

       4. Part 4 Information

          1. 8. Duty to notify the deposit management organisation of a change in the applicant information, return point authorisation information or take-back service authorisation information

       5. Part 5 Revocation of authorisation

          1. 9. Revocation of authorisation on request

          2. 10. Revocation of authorisation on initiative of the deposit management organisation

    5. Schedule 5

       Appointment etc. of the deposit management organisation

       1. Part 1 Introductory

          1. 1. Interpretation of Schedule 5

       2. Part 2 Appointment of the deposit management organisation

          1. 2. Decision on DMO appointment applications

       3. Part 3 Revocation of a person’s appointment as the deposit management organisation

          1. 3. Revocation of a person’s appointment as the deposit management organisation: on notice

          2. 4. Revocation of a person’s appointment as the deposit management organisation: discretion of the Secretary of State

          3. 5. Transfer of assets etc.

          4. 6. Transitional provision in connection with paragraph 5

          5. 7. Continuity in exercise of deposit management organisation functions

       4. Part 4 Appeals in connection with Parts 2 and 3

          1. 8. Right of appeal

    6. Schedule 6

       Civil Sanctions

       1. Part 1 Introductory

          1. 1. Interpretation of Schedule 6

       2. Part 2 The Table of Civil Sanctions

       3. Part 3 Fixed monetary penalties

          1. 2. Power to impose an FMP

          2. 3. Notice of intention to impose an FMP

          3. 4. Making representations and objections

          4. 5. Final notice of decision to impose an FMP

          5. 6. Appeal

          6. 7. Non-payment after 56 days

       4. Part 4 Variable monetary penalties

          1. 8. Power to impose a VMP

          2. 9. Notice of intention to issue a VMP

          3. 10. Representations and objections

          4. 11. Service of final notice

          5. 12. Contents of final notice

          6. 13. Appeal against a final notice

       5. Part 5 Compliance Notices

          1. 14. Issue of a compliance notice

          2. 15. Contents of a compliance notice

          3. 16. Appeal against a compliance notice

       6. Part 6 Enforcement undertaking

          1. 17. Power to accept an enforcement undertaking and related matters

          2. 18. Contents of an enforcement undertaking

          3. 19. Effect of acceptance of an enforcement undertaking

          4. 20. Publication of enforcement undertakings

          5. 21. Discharge of an enforcement undertaking

          6. 22. Rights of appeal

          7. 23. Inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information

          8. 24. Partial compliance with an enforcement undertaking

    7. Schedule 7

       Procedure on Appeal

       1. 1. Application

       2. 2. Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal

       3. 3. Appeal to the appeals commission: notice of appeal

       4. 4. Appeal to the appeals commission: time for bringing appeal

       5. 5. Appeal to the appeals commission: decision on appeal

16. Explanatory Note