Everything you need to know about Recorra and our services.
Please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Exchange for Change wants to provide further support for smaller, independent retailers.
Retailers in urban areas with a sales space between 100m² and 199m² will be able to apply for a size-based exemption.
Further exemption allowances have also been agreed for situations such as limited site access, heritage or listed building constraints, lack of utilities, or where there are already sufficient return points nearby. Exchange for Change will be responsible for assessing and approving these applications.
Exchange for Change intends to support smaller businesses with a targeted grant scheme to help smaller retailers invest in RVMs when they are the most appropriate solution. The proposed grant level is £6,000 per site, to be paid in annual instalments of £2,000 for three years, starting three months after implementation. Exchange for Change has set aside £60m to fund these grants over the first three years of scheme operation.
Return Handling Fees (RHF) are the mechanism that funds the take-back infrastructure in DRS, paying retailers a small amount per returned container to offset the real cost of operating return points.
The confirmed RHF will operate on a tiered basis, depending on how containers are collected.
The tiered approach recognises that operational costs vary depending on the scale and type of retailer, ensuring the scheme remains balanced and fair across different business models.
Whenever your return point accepts containers and refunds customers the deposit amount, the DMO reimburses you for the discrepancy if you have provided more refunded deposits than you have sold. It will also pay a handling fee to cover your operational costs (yet to be confirmed).
Handling fees are designed to offset expenses such as staffing, storage space, machine operation, administration and reporting.
This ensures businesses are not financially worse off for running a return point.
The Deposit Return Scheme will cover all single-use PET plastic bottles and metal cans used for drinks ranging from 150 ml to 3 L, allowing consumers to return them and claim a deposit refund.
The Deposit Return Scheme is set to launch on 1ˢᵗ October 2027 in England, Northern Ireland, and probably Wales. Scotland is adjusting its schedule so the rollout happens across the UK at the same time.