What is the Deposit Return Scheme?
The Deposit Return Scheme is one of the most significant environmental policy shifts in decades.
From 1 October 2027, a small refundable deposit (around 20p) will be added to every eligible single-use plastic bottle and aluminium can sold in the UK. Consumers get it back when they return empty containers to a registered collection point or reverse vending machine.
The aim is to divert an estimated 24.5 billion drinks containers per year into a dedicated closed-loop recycling system — dramatically improving recycling quality and reducing litter nationwide.
The DRS affects every business that sells, serves or manages drinks in single-use containers — but obligations vary by sector and size. It will also impact offices and workplaces where staff will need to be able to dispose of cans and bottles to receive their deposit.
How the DRS Affects Different Sectors
Supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores and newsagents that sell in-scope drinks must host a return point unless they qualify for an exemption. Retailers must also register with Exchange for Change, refund deposits at the point of return, store returned containers for collection, and display clear scheme information.
Explore our DRS reverse vending machine solution for retailers or talk to a DRS consultant.
Hospitality venues including pubs, restaurants, cafés, hotels and theatres are not required to be mandatory return points currently under the Exchange for Change (EfC) scheme. However, it expected that they will be included in a second phase of the DRS rollout.
Find our more and talk to our DRS consultants to prepare for the future roll-out for hospitality and to get a free waste audit to see the percentage of eligible containers in your recycling.
Your office or workplace is not required to operate a DRS return point, but the scheme will affect how containers are managed across your existing waste streams. Your staff will have bottles that can they could get a deposit for, so it's worth considering a workplace returns option.
Talk to our DRS consultatants today and explore our DRS solutions for workplaces without the full cost of a reverse vending machine solution.
Producers of plastic bottles and cans covered under the scheme will be required to pay deposit charges to wholesale suppliers on eligible containers, with costs passed along the supply chain. Containers must be correctly labelled and DRS-compliant ahead of October 2027.
Talk to our DRS consultants about how First Mile can support your business in the transition to DRS.
How First Mile can help your business
Secure Waste Disposal FAQs
What is secure destruction?
What is secure destruction?
It is the disposal of confidential waste, such as hard drives or highly sensitive documents, ensuring that no trace of the data contained is left.
Why is it important to dispose of confidential waste securely and safely?
Why is it important to dispose of confidential waste securely and safely?
The main reason to use secure disposal services is to stop any private data the waste may contain from falling into the wrong hands.
This requires it to be securely destroyed by a licensed service provider that is equipped to do so. First Mile has been approved by Alcumus ISOQAR as being compliant with the requirements of BS15713: 2009, meaning we are able to fulfil the secure collection and managed destruction of confidential material.
In short, it means you can trust us to get rid of anything confidential your business might have produced.
What is the best way of disposing of confidential waste?
What is the best way of disposing of confidential waste?
By contacting First Mile and getting your quote today.
Since we have been approved to collect and destroy confidential waste, we can guarantee it will be handled and destroyed using our secure disposal services.
Select from one of our options below and arrange a collection at a time that suits you.
What laws regulate confidential waste disposal?
What laws regulate confidential waste disposal?
There are two main laws that regulate the disposal of confidential waste.
Firstly, the Data Protection Act 1998 outlines the rules businesses must follow regarding personal data stored in physical files or on computers. Any who fail to or choose not to comply risk a fine of up to £500,000, with further legal action possible.
It also requires businesses to use a company that specialises in the secure destruction of confidential waste (such as First Mile) to get rid of any private data.
The second is the 2018 EU GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) Legislation, which was kept post-Brexit, albeit with a few changes made.
It asks businesses to provide a detailed audit trail when it comes to their confidential waste disposal to ensure they are destroying their data in the right manner.
Is confidential waste recycled?
Is confidential waste recycled?
Yes. First Mile will ensure that any confidential waste collected will be recycled.
How is shredded confidential waste recycled?
How is shredded confidential waste recycled?
Any data printed on paper picked up by First Mile will first be shredded within 24 hours of collection to render it illegible before being recycled in a GDPR compliant manner.
As for hard drives and other IT equipment, they will be wiped clean using Blancco, the market-leading data sanitisation platform so they can be reused.
If that is not possible, they will be shredded in our secure BS EN 1713 accredited facility, where all materials (metals, plastics, rubbers…) are separated and then recycled.
Can I incinerate confidential documents?
Can I incinerate confidential documents?
It is generally not advised to incinerate paper due to the dangerous and toxic fumes created, adding to the already existing air pollution First Mile is striving to reduce.
That is why we recommend using our secure paper shredding to destroy your confidential data.
