Eriez has reported increasing activity among UK recycling operators as the industry prepares for the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers on 1 October 2027.

Following recent discussions with materials recycling facility integrators and end users, Eriez has identified a rise in project planning and capital investment across the sector.

Recycling organisations are either developing new plastics recycling capabilities or expanding existing plastics recycling facilities to manage the expected increase in single-use container volumes.

Many operators are aiming to be fully operational well before the Deposit Return Scheme launches, aligning their project timelines with key milestones during 2027.

The UK’s Deposit Return Scheme will introduce a refundable deposit, expected to be around £0.20, on single-use drinks containers made from PET plastic, aluminium and steel, ranging from 150ml to 3 litres.

The programme aims to achieve collection rates of more than 90% through a network of return points, including reverse vending machines and retail locations across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

As operators prepare for implementation, facility design is becoming increasingly important, particularly around material separation.

Efficient recovery of aluminium and steel, alongside the removal of ferrous contamination from plastic streams, will be essential to achieving the material purity required for downstream recycling.

Eriez supports these requirements with a range of separation technologies used across materials recycling facilities and plastics recycling facilities.

Eddy current separators are used to recover non-ferrous metals, such as aluminium, from mixed waste streams, while magnetic separation equipment removes ferrous metals and helps protect downstream processing equipment.

These technologies improve material quality, reduce contamination and support overall system efficiency.

Lloyd Williams, Eriez-Europe Sales Director, said:

“We are already seeing increased engagement from recycling operators as they begin planning for the operational requirements the DRS will introduce.

“Many organisations are expanding their capabilities or entering plastics recycling for the first time, with a clear focus on readiness ahead of the 2027 launch.”

He added:

“Early consideration of material separation is critical. Decisions made today will directly affect long-term efficiency, recovery rates, and the ability to meet the scheme’s performance targets.”

Eriez continues to work with system integrators and end users during the planning and design stages of new and upgraded facilities.

Early collaboration helps operators evaluate separation technologies and incorporate optimised solutions before final system buildout.

For more information about Eriez recycling equipment, visit the Eriez website.