Most consumers say they want to support recycling efforts, but what happens when participation doesn’t match intention? Marius Fraurud, head of TOMRA Collection, discusses why convenience is critical in terms of increasing participation in deposit return schemes.
As deposit returns schemes (DRS) for drink container recycling gain momentum worldwide, 2026 is shaping up as a pivotal year in circular infrastructure. In April alone, Singapore and Portugal have launched their own systems, signalling that governments are serious about optimising collection methods and improving recycling rates.
DRS is designed to supplement traditional recycling infrastructure by improving the collection rates of beverage containers. By placing a value on packaging and refunding that deposit when consumers bring their container back, DRS aims to change the psychology of waste by incentivising its return. Simply put, packaging is no longer something to be discarded; instead, it becomes worth returning.
While public support for recycling is generally high, intention alone does not guarantee participation. This means that for DRS to deliver high return rates, systems must be designed around how people behave. This is where convenience becomes critical in a new roll-out. Not as a standalone factor, but as a foundation that allows other elements to function effectively, such as meaningful deposits, strong targets, and system integrity.
Access beats awareness
Consumers are busy, and dealing with waste for many inevitably drops down the list of immediate priorities. If returning a container requires a significant detour, a queue, or unclear instructions, participation will drop. Conversely, when return systems are seamlessly integrated into everyday lives, whether at suburban supermarkets or within city areas, return rates increase significantly.
Simply installing reverse vending machines is not enough, as their design, usability, and placement are critical to their effectiveness. From a user perspective, the experience must be quick, intuitive, and reliable. Otherwise the system risks discouraging repeated usage. A well-designed DRS offers fast processing, clear instructions, and ever-increasing levels of digital integration. These elements can help to significantly enhance user experience and convenience.
The placement of return points is just as important. In high-performing systems, return points are located where people already go. Retail environments, in particular, have proven highly effective, aligning recycling with consumers’ existing habits. When returning containers becomes part of everyday life, participation becomes second nature.
Lessons from global DRS implementation
TOMRA’s experience in building established DRS markets across the globe provides valuable insights into what works.
Successful systems always share a few common characteristics: progressive performance structure (including a broad scope of containers and a well-structured deposit value), producer responsibility, system integrity powered by policy, and convenience. Countries and providers that have prioritised these elements in their deposit return schemes have already achieved return rates above 90%.
Where systems underperform, gaps in access and reliability can often be at the root, indicating that convenience must be embedded in design in the outset, not as an afterthought.
That said, as noted, convenience is not the sole determinant of success. High-performing deposit return schemes rely on a combination of factors working in tandem, including deposits that effectively incentivise participation, machine performance, clear and effective producer responsibility, and overall system integrity. Reliability, transparency, and operational efficiency are equally critical in building trust and ensuring long-term effectiveness, with convenience acting as one important part of a much broader ecosystem.
Designing for different environments
Expanding DRS into new markets, including Singapore and Portugal, illustrates the need for tailored solutions. Dense urban areas require high-capacity, high-throughput systems that can handle large volumes efficiently. Space constraints demand compact, integrated machines, where convenience is measured in speed and proximity.
In more dispersed regions, such as parts of Portugal, coverage is the priority. Consumers must have reasonable access to return points, and local business partnerships become crucial to create an accessible network.
A one-size-fits-all approach rarely delivers optimal results. Instead, systems must be tailored to local conditions whilst maintaining a consistent user experience.
From policy ambition to real-world performance
The expansion of DRS represents the continuation of progress in the transition to circular economies. However, policy ambition will not deliver the desired outcomes.
To achieve high return rates and long-term system efficiency, convenience must be placed at the centre of deposit return system design. This means investing not only in infrastructure, but in the user experience – ensuring that participation is as simple and intuitive as possible.
Those within the waste and recycling industry are fully aware that success depends on understanding and designing for human behaviour. As new systems come online in markets across the world, there is an opportunity to further refine and improve them. The lessons are already there; we must continue to apply them.
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