Unitas offers calculator to help independents prepare for deposit return scheme
Unitas Wholesale has introduced a calculator to help independent retailers prepare for the Deposit Return Scheme starting in October 2027. The tool lets retailers estimate container returns, deposit flows, handling fee income, and storage needs for manual or reverse vending returns. Unitas said the scheme will require major operational changes and store-level planning.
Unitas Wholesale has added a DRS Calculator to its Plan for Profit retailer platform. Stores can input characteristics such as format, size and typical weekly sales to generate indicative estimates of returned container volumes, deposit money moving in and out, possible handling fee revenue, and space needs. It covers both manual returns and reverse vending machine options.
The scheme begins 1 October 2027 and applies to eligible PET plastic bottles plus aluminium and steel cans. Retailers will charge deposits and, at return points, handle verification, refunds, container storage and collection arrangements. Unitas cited ACS research from June 2026 showing 48% of convenience retailers were unaware of DRS.
The scheme could reshape daily routines for shoppers and independent shop owners. Consumers may need to return containers to redeem deposits, potentially changing where they shop and how they handle packaging. Retailers, especially smaller convenience stores, may face new storage, staffing and cash-flow demands, while those adapting early could gain footfall. Wider effects may include less litter and higher recycling, though outcomes depend on access, preparation and consumer participation.