UK Deposit Return Scheme - Exchange For Change Announces Return Handling Fee

Exchange for Change (EfC) has announced details of the Return Handling Fee (RHF), in the attached media release. 

The RHF will operate on a tiered basis across manual and automatic return points, to reflect the complexity and diversity of the UK's retail landscape. EFC advise that it has been designed to ensure the scheme remains in balance and fair for all.

The detail of the RHF is as follows:

• Manual return points - 3p per container

• Automatic return points:

  • Tier 1 - 5p per container, up to 225,000 in-scope items returned annually

  • Tier 2 - 1.3p per container, for annual in-scope return in excess of 225,000

SGF understands that that the fees will be subject to review before launch and in the months following the go live date, in October 2027.

It is also expected that more information will be provided on the details of the scheme in the coming months. Such as further information on the support grant for independent retailers seeking to purchase/hire an RVM, collection requirements and exemption criteria.

SGF has noted that the Fee may not fully cover the expense of running an RVM for some convenience stores and has called on EFC to review the Fee before launch [Press Release].

SGF will keep members updated on further developments.