Deposit return scheme administrator Exchange for Change has announced the winners of bidding to run the logistics of the scheme for the UK rollout.
It announced the logistics and processing services will be provided by a network of recycling providers, which it said would deliver a “resilient and scalable” and create around 700 new jobs.
Six new purpose-built processing facilities will help the scheme handle a target of 90% of the 25 billion single-use containers covering different areas of the UK. It will involve:
- Suez – the north east, north west, west central and south west regions of England
- Cirqlr – the east central, south and south east regions of England
- Re.Group – Scotland, working in partnership with Hargreaves Services
- Bywaters – London
- Re-Gen – Northern Ireland
Exchange for Change said the agreements would unlock millions of pounds of investment in the UK’s recycling infrastructure. Three dedicated DRS processing facilities in Scotland, Scunthorpe and Guildford, two dedicated DRS processing lines in Isle of Dogs and Newry, and one shared-use plastics recycling facility in Avonmouth will be operational from October 2027.
Expansion will follow with the creation of three new purpose-built processing facilities in Ely in Cambridgeshire, Knowsley in Merseyside, and Avonmouth, which will be operational from October 2030.
Around 400 new recycling vehicles are also expected to be mobilised to facilitate the collection of DRS materials from every corner of the UK.
The first stage of registration for DRS began this week and from October 2027 it will see a 20p deposit applied to all single-use PET plastic, aluminium and steel drinks containers.
The UK rollout will be determined to avoid a repeat of the logistics fallout in Scotland, which saw Biffa sign a 10-year contract with Circularity Scotland to act as the sole logistics provider in 2022.
After the collapse of the scheme Biffa sued the Scottish government for more than £50m but the case was dismissed by the Scottish courts in January this year.
Exchange for Change CEO Russell Davies said: “Confirming our logistics and processing partners is another significant milestone in our preparations for the scheme going live from October 2027, and it is exciting to see investment in assets and facilities moving ahead, which will also generate hundreds of jobs across the UK.
“Together the five waste management companies will create a resilient and scalable collections network that will ensure efficient collection and processing of DRS materials. We look forward to working with our partners to deliver this crucial element of the deposit return scheme when it goes live in October 2027.”
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