Over 50 regions around the world operate a deposit return scheme (DRS) for recycling of drinks containers such as cans and glass/plastic bottles. These include 17 European countries, all Australian states, 10 US states and nearly all of Canada. Regions such as Scotland, England and Wales in the United Kingdom, Poland and Portugal are set to introduce deposit schemes for recycling in the coming years. Read below for a full list of deposit return systems. A deposit return scheme helps combat litter and waste (especially plastic waste), increase the recycling rate, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and drive a circular economy. Deposit return schemes are a proven approach to increase drink container return rates toward recycling, with deposit systems achieving up to 98% return of eligible beverage containers; no other waste collection system comes close to such results. 

Calls are increasing for other countries to follow suit, with the United Nations Environment Program in 2017 encouraging nations to implement deposit return systems for drinks container recycling. The European Union's Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation requires member states to set up a deposit return system by 2029 to achieve 90% separate collection rates for single-use plastic and metal drink containers.*

Country/state deposit return schemes and their features

Every deposit return scheme for beverage containers recycling is set up separately, so each country or state has different guidelines on the deposit/refund value and which drink containers are eligible. Below is a list of countries/states with a legislated deposit return scheme for single-use beverage containers, some of which also include reusable containers. (Other regions also operate DRSs for reusable drink containers, and these are typically non-legislated, producer-run programs.) The list includes the eligible containers and deposit value.

Locations are listed by continent/region; countries that have states with different deposit return schemes for recycling are listed by country. Click the arrow beside the geography name to expand the list.