Why Wimbledon?

Sporting events provide the ideal environment to test the Deposit Return Scheme.

Thousands of visitors purchase drinks over a relatively short period, creating large volumes of plastic bottles and cans that would traditionally enter mixed recycling or general waste bins. The Wimbledon pilot allows organisers to understand how visitors interact with reverse vending machines, how quickly containers are returned, whether queues develop and how collection systems perform under real event conditions.

These insights are valuable because the success of DRS won’t simply depend on whether people return their bottles. It will also depend on whether venues have the right infrastructure, staffing and waste management processes to support the scheme efficiently.

Imagine a summer music festival welcoming 40,000 visitors on a warm afternoon. Thousands of empty drinks containers could be returned within minutes after a headline performance finishes, placing significant pressure on collection points, storage areas and waste teams. Planning for these peak return periods will become another important consideration alongside existing event logistics, including food service, security and crowd management.

How Will the Deposit Return Scheme Work?

From 1 October 2027, consumers across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland will pay a refundable 20p deposit when purchasing eligible single-use PET plastic bottles and aluminium or steel drinks cans between 150ml and 3 litres.

Once the empty container is returned to a designated return point, either manually or through a reverse vending machine, the deposit will be refunded.

The UK Government expects the scheme to increase return rates for eligible drinks containers to more than 90% within its first three years, helping reduce litter while improving the quality of materials collected for recycling. The aim is to capture higher-quality materials for recycling, reduce litter and support a more circular economy where drinks containers are recycled into new drinks containers.

Deposit return schemes are already well established across Europe. Countries including Germany, Norway and Finland have demonstrated that well-designed schemes can achieve return rates exceeding 90%, providing valuable lessons for the UK’s rollout.

For consumers, the process is designed to be simple.

For venues and businesses, however, it introduces several new operational considerations.

What Could the Deposit Return Scheme Mean for Event Venues?

Reverse vending machines are only one piece of the puzzle.

Large venues may also need to consider:

• Dedicated areas for container returns
• Additional storage space for collected bottles and cans
• More frequent collections during busy events
• Clear visitor signage and communications
• Staff training to support visitors using return points
• Effective waste segregation behind the scenes
• Preventing overflow during peak attendance

Unlike permanent retail locations, many events experience dramatic spikes in visitor numbers over just a few hours. Waste management systems therefore need to be flexible enough to cope with sudden increases in returned containers while maintaining a positive visitor experience.

This is particularly important for festivals, stadiums, racecourses, arenas and outdoor events where available space is often limited.

Why Waste Management Will Become Even More Important

The Deposit Return Scheme is designed to create cleaner, higher-quality recycling streams while reducing litter across the UK.

For event organisers, this presents an opportunity to improve sustainability performance, but only if waste collection systems are designed to support the additional material flow.

Returned drinks containers will need to be collected efficiently, stored safely and transported for recycling without disrupting wider event operations.

At the same time, organisers will still need effective solutions for food waste, cardboard, mixed recycling, general waste and other event waste streams.

Rather than replacing existing waste management systems, DRS adds another layer that must work alongside them. Businesses that take a joined-up approach to waste management will be better placed to maintain efficiency while meeting changing environmental requirements.

Five Questions Every Venue Should Be Asking Now

Although October 2027 may still seem some way off, preparation takes time.

Event organisers should already be considering:

• Will we need reverse vending machines or manual return points?
• Do we have enough space to store returned containers?
• How will containers be collected during peak visitor periods?
• Will our current waste collection schedule still be suitable?
• Are we working with a waste management partner who understands the operational impact of DRS?

As demonstrated by the Wimbledon pilot, the success of the Deposit Return Scheme won’t be determined solely by technology. It will rely on careful planning, efficient logistics and well-managed collection systems.

Preparing for October 2027

As Wimbledon demonstrates how the Deposit Return Scheme could operate at a major live event, businesses across the UK have an opportunity to start preparing well before the scheme launches on 1 October 2027.

While visitors experience a straightforward 20p deposit and refund process, organisers are gaining valuable insight into the infrastructure, staffing and operational planning required to make the scheme work at scale.

For businesses that host large numbers of people, now is the ideal time to review waste management arrangements, assess existing collection infrastructure and begin preparing for the changes DRS will bring. Businesses that start planning now will be better placed to minimise disruption, maintain a positive visitor experience and maximise recycling performance when the scheme comes into force.

How Flame UK Can Help

The lessons emerging from the Wimbledon pilot show that preparing for the Deposit Return Scheme is about far more than introducing reverse vending machines. Successful implementation will depend on careful planning, efficient collections and a waste management strategy that can cope with high visitor numbers.

Preparing for the Deposit Return Scheme for event venues starts with reviewing your existing waste management strategy, understanding how collections may need to change and ensuring your operations are ready for the additional demands the scheme will bring.

At Flame UK, we help businesses develop practical waste management solutions that improve operational efficiency, support sustainability goals and prepare organisations for future regulatory changes.

Whether you manage a stadium, festival, conference venue, exhibition centre, leisure attraction or another high-footfall site, we can help you:

• Review your existing waste management strategy
• Optimise waste collections during busy events and peak visitor periods
• Improve recycling rates and reduce contamination
• Manage food waste, cardboard, mixed recycling and general waste alongside future Deposit Return Scheme requirements
• Develop tailored waste management solutions that support your operational and sustainability objectives
• Prepare your business for the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme

With the Deposit Return Scheme launching on 1 October 2027, now is the ideal time to review your waste management arrangements and start planning for the changes ahead.

If you’d like to discuss how your organisation can prepare for the Deposit Return Scheme, get in touch with the team at Flame UK. Together, we can help you build a waste management strategy that’s ready for the future.