If you run pubs, restaurants, cafés, hotels or event spaces, you’re already balancing service, staffing and tight operational margins. Any regulatory change has to fit around that reality.
The UK Deposit Return Scheme launches in October 2027. For hospitality businesses, the important thing to know is this: you’re not expected to turn your venues into bottle return centres. But the scheme will affect how certain drinks containers are handled, stored and collected behind the scenes.
DRS hospitality planning is about finding out what actually applies to your sites, what doesn’t and where small operational adjustments may be needed. With early preparation, those adjustments will be manageable and won’t interfere with guest experience.
This guide explains what DRS means in practice for hospitality chains and multi site operators, so you can plan with clarity and confidence.
What does DRS mean for hospitality businesses?
When people search for “DRS hospitality”, they’re usually asking one simple question: how does the Deposit Return Scheme affect pubs, restaurants, cafés and hotels?
The scheme itself is straightforward. A small deposit is added to certain drinks containers when they’re sold. Customers get that deposit back when they return the empty container to an official return point.
For hospitality venues, the impact is different from retail.
In most cases, you’re not selling drinks for customers to take away in bulk and you’re not expected to operate as a public return point. Instead, DRS affects:
- How certain takeaway or packaged drinks are handled
- How empty containers are stored and segregated
- How waste collections are structured
- How your team answers customer questions
The focus is operational. It’s about making sure your waste processes reflect the scheme without disrupting service or guest experience.
For most venues, that means minor adjustments behind the scenes rather than visible changes on the floor.
When is DRS launching in the UK and where does it apply?
The UK Deposit Return Scheme is due to launch in October 2027.
It will apply across:
- England
- Scotland
- Northern Ireland
That means UK DRS hospitality venues are working towards a shared timeline. While some operational detail may continue to develop, the overall framework is agreed.
Most importantly, there’s time to prepare. Hospitality operators can review waste, storage and staff guidance gradually, instead of reacting late.
Do hospitality venues have to accept returns under DRS?
Under current UK plans, hospitality venues are not expected to act as mandatory return points.
This is one of the most important points in DRS hospitality planning.
The scheme recognises that hospitality environments are designed for service, not high-volume public returns. Drinks are typically consumed on site, and empty containers are managed within the venue’s own waste systems.
For most pubs, cafés, restaurants and hotels:
- You won’t be required to accept empty containers from the public
- You won’t need to operate a DRS return point hospitality setup
- Your front of house service model remains the same
That distinction protects guest experience and staff workflow. For most venues, what will change is awareness and waste handling, not customer returns.
What is a voluntary return point in hospitality?
A voluntary return point is a site that chooses to accept returns even though it isn’t required to.
In practice, this means a hospitality venue can opt in because it suits their location or operating model. This may suit certain locations, such as:
- Large event venues
- Sites with outdoor footfall
- Temporary or seasonal locations
There can be advantages. It may align with sustainability goals or offer convenience in high-traffic areas. However, there are also challenges to weigh up, including:
- Space for returns and storage
- Queues and customer flow
- Staffing and hygiene controls
For most hospitality businesses, becoming a voluntary return point won’t be necessary. It’s a strategic decision, not a compliance requirement.
Which drinks containers are in scope for DRS?
In scope drinks containers under DRS are those that carry a deposit and can be returned for a refund.
In hospitality, this is most relevant for:
- Takeaway drinks
- Bottled or canned drinks sold for off site consumption
Drinks consumed fully on site are generally handled within your existing waste streams. However, containers that fall within scheme scope may need to be segregated once empty.
Understanding scope matters because it affects:
- How containers are stored
- How waste is segregated
- How collections are planned
Clear segregation helps prevent contamination and keeps waste operations running smoothly.
What does DRS mean for day-to-day hospitality operations?
For most venues, the impact of DRS hospitality will be operational rather than visible to guests.
Front of house impact
Front of house teams may receive questions about deposits or returns, particularly from customers familiar with schemes in other countries.
Staff don’t need detailed policy knowledge. They need clear, simple messaging about what applies to the venue.
For DRS for pubs and restaurants, the focus should be:
- Knowing whether the venue accepts returns
- Explaining where customers can return containers if needed
- Keeping service flow smooth
Brief, consistent guidance avoids confusion during busy periods.
Back of house storage and hygiene
Back of house planning is where DRS has the biggest operational impact.
Hospitality teams should think about:
- Segregated storage for in scope containers
- Cleanliness and odour control
- Pest management
- Manual handling practices
For DRS in hotels and larger venues, container volume and storage capacity are key considerations. With planning, these are manageable adjustments that sit alongside existing glass and recycling processes.
How DRS affects hospitality waste collections
DRS hospitality can change the makeup of your waste streams.
Some containers that previously went into mixed recycling may now require separate handling, which may affect hospitality waste collections DRS planning.
You may need to review:
- Storage space
- Collection frequency
- Container types
- Risk of contamination across streams
This should sit alongside your wider business waste and recycling arrangements, including glass recycling and food recycling.
Working with a waste partner like First Mile that understands hospitality operations makes this much easier. Collections, reporting and compliance should support service, not interrupt it.
How DRS fits with other packaging reforms
DRS is part of a wider set of changes affecting packaging in the UK.
Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, shifts more of the cost of packaging waste onto producers. Together, DRS and EPR packaging reforms aim to improve recycling outcomes and create clearer accountability across the supply chain.
For hospitality operators, these changes can feel like they’re arriving at the same time.
Taking a joined up approach helps. Reviewing storage, collections, reporting and compliance together reduces duplication and avoids piecemeal decisions across sites.
What hospitality businesses can learn from Ireland’s DRS
Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme is already live and offers useful operational insight.
For hospitality operators, practical lessons include:
- The value of clear signage
- Staff awareness and simple explanations
- Consistent handling standards
Customer behaviour adjusted quickly once the scheme was understood, which is particularly encouraging for UK DRS hospitality venues planning ahead.
The exact UK model may differ, but preparation and communication will remain central.
What hospitality businesses should do now
Early planning reduces disruption and cost for DRS hospitality.
Practical steps to take now include:
- Confirming whether any sites may become voluntary return points
- Reviewing storage capacity and segregation
- Checking how collections may need to adapt
- Creating simple internal guidance for teams
- Speaking with your waste partner about future planning
You’re on the right track if your teams understand what stays the same, what changes and where to ask questions.
Getting ready for DRS hospitality
DRS hospitality is manageable with the right preparation.
Venues aren’t expected to act as default return points, but the scheme still affects waste handling, storage and operational planning. Businesses that review their setup early can spread changes over time and avoid last minute pressure.
At First Mile, we work with hospitality operators to align waste, compliance and operational needs in a practical way. That includes storage planning, collections and clear reporting across multi site estates.
If you’d like support preparing your venues, talk to First Mile about getting your hospitality sites DRS ready.
FAQs
What does DRS mean for hospitality businesses?
DRS means certain drinks containers carry a deposit. For hospitality, the focus is on understanding scope, waste handling and customer questions rather than accepting returns.
Do pubs and restaurants have to accept returns under DRS?
No. Under current plans, DRS for pubs and restaurants does not require venues to accept returns unless they choose to become a voluntary return point.
What is a voluntary return point in hospitality?
A voluntary return point hospitality site chooses to accept returns even though it is not required to. This is optional and based on operational suitability.
Which drinks containers are included in the UK DRS?
The scheme covers in scope drinks containers DRS such as bottles and cans that carry a deposit. These are most relevant for takeaway and packaged drinks.
How will DRS affect hospitality waste collections?
DRS can change how some containers are stored and collected. This may affect segregation, storage space and collection frequency.
How does DRS link to EPR and other packaging reforms?
DRS works alongside EPR. Together, they aim to improve recycling outcomes and create clearer responsibility across the packaging system.
