Exchange for Change has announced the Return Handling Fees:
Manual return points - 3p per container
Automatic return points -
o Tier 1 – 5p per container, up to 225,000 in-scope items returned annually.
o Tier 2 – 1.3p per container, for annual in-scope returns in excess of 225,000.
Automatic return points -
o Tier 1 – 5p per container, up to 225,000 in-scope items returned annually.
o Tier 2 – 1.3p per container, for annual in-scope returns in excess of 225,000.
The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) regulations allow for retailers in urban areas with a retail footprint of less than 100m² to be automatically exempt from operating a return point for DRS items. However, Exchange For Change has agreed an extension of the exemption criteria, allowing for retailers with a sales area of between 100m² and 199m² in urban settings and rural retailers with less than 200m² of sales area to apply for a size-based exemption. Further exemption allowances have also been agreed on the basis of proximity, heritage or listed building restrictions, site access or lack of access to utilities.
In addition, Exchange For Change is making available £60M in grant funding to help up to 10,000 small, independent retailers towards the cost of installing Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs).
Grants of £6,000 will be made available per site to qualifying small, independent retailers in three annual payments of £2,000, which will be funded three months after the installation of an RVM.