The DRS is coming but is it ready for everyone?

Could the way we design Deposit Return Schemes make recycling easier for everyone?

Ahead of the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) launch in October 2027, Special Olympics GB, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) and Exchange for Change are joining forces to test how accessible the future system could be.

At the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games in Birmingham, taking place from 27–30 August, athletes, spectators, volunteers and supporters will test Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) in a real-world event environment.

The trial will look beyond simply whether the machines work. Researchers will gather feedback on how easily people understand the machines, instructions and DRS messaging, helping identify potential barriers and ways to make the scheme more inclusive.

A key part of the trial is involving people with intellectual disabilities directly in the design process. Special Olympics GB athlete leaders have already helped shape the artwork and instructions, putting user experience and accessibility at the heart of the project.

And there’s an added incentive to take part: CCEP will donate 20p to Special Olympics GB for every eligible drinks container returned through the machines during the Games.

With the DRS still over a year away, the trial offers an early look at how the scheme could work in practice and, more importantly, how it can be designed with the people who will actually use it.