Practical guide helps wholesalers support retail, catering and hospitality
National Buying Consortium (NBC) has prepared a customer-facing FAQ to help its members explain the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) to their retail, catering and hospitality customers and support preparations for its planned launch on 1 October 2027.
Designed for members to share with their customers, the November 2026 guide brings together practical answers on deposits, eligible drinks containers, return points, exemptions and business readiness. It gives members a clear starting point for customer conversations, while highlighting where final rules and operational guidance still need to be confirmed.
The FAQ follows NBC’s recent announcement of a DRS calculator to help members assess the scheme’s potential cash-flow impact. The calculator estimates deposit throughput, working-capital requirements and financing costs using each business’s volumes, supplier terms, stockholding and customer payment periods. Together, the resources support members in planning for their own businesses and helping their customers prepare.
The FAQ explains the 20p refundable deposit on eligible single-use PET plastic, aluminium and steel drinks containers from 150ml to 3 litres. It also highlights differences across the UK, including the separate arrangements for glass in Wales, rather than assuming every business will face the same requirements.
Its focus is on the everyday questions customers will ask: how the deposit should appear on shelf-edge labels, menus and receipts; whether a business needs to accept returns; how on-site consumption differs from takeaway sales; and what changes may be needed to tills, staff training, storage and cash-flow planning.
The guide also covers registration and provisional stock-transition arrangements, helping businesses identify the actions relevant to their own outlets without treating developing guidance as settled policy.
Clare Spindler, Business Development Manager, NBC, states:
“Our members are an important point of contact for customers preparing for DRS. This FAQ is about giving them a practical resource they can share, so retailers, caterers and hospitality operators can understand what the changes could mean for their businesses.
“From explaining the refundable deposit to planning tills, returns and staff training, clear information will help customers ask the right questions and prepare with greater confidence. We want to help members support those conversations, while being clear about the details that remain subject to final guidance.”
Clare Spindler, Business Development Manager, NBC
For customers considering a reverse vending machine (RVM), the FAQ explains how to check the published certified supplier and model list and assess installation, servicing and refund-system requirements. It stresses that certification confirms compliance with scheme specifications, not guaranteed machine performance, grant entitlement or readiness to operate. Manual returns remain an option where a return point is required.
The guide encourages businesses to establish their obligations, complete registration where required, obtain clear product information from suppliers and plan how deposits and refunds will be handled. It also advises customers to monitor official updates before making pricing, systems or equipment commitments.
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