The scheme is set to launch in October 2027, and will include single-use drinks containers between 150ml and three litres made from PET plastic, steel and aluminium.
Consumers will pay a refundable deposit of 20p when purchasing an in-scope container and will be able to reclaim it by returning the empty container to a designated return point.
However, YouGov said that awareness of the scheme remains low, with 61% of respondents saying they had never heard of the DRS.
A further 24% said they knew little about how it works, while just 13% described themselves as “very familiar” or “fairly familiar” with it.
Willingness to take part was high across all age groups, ranging from 67% among 35 to 44-year-olds to 76% among 18 to 24-year-olds.
The research surveyed 2,048 UK adults who do their grocery shopping at a supermarket.
It was carried out online between 28 and 29 September 2026, and the data has been weighted by YouGov to be representative of UK adults.
Convenience key to participation
The YouGov survey found that convenience will play a major role in turning stated willingness into action.
Over half (57%) of those surveyed said they would prefer to return containers using machines at supermarkets, with 35% favouring machines outside stores and 22% preferring them inside. Local convenience stores were the preferred option for 11%, while 8% chose dedicated recycling points.
However, services that remove the need for a separate trip proved more popular. Some 84% of respondents said they would be likely to return containers if they were collected alongside household recycling, while 75% said they would use a dedicated home collection service.
Collection through grocery deliveries appealed to 61% of shoppers. This rose to 73% among 25 to 34-year-olds, but fell to 51% among those aged 55 and over.
Barriers to returns
The most common concern when it came to returning items was distance, with 61% saying return points being too far away would deter them.
Nearly half (49%) cited queues being a concern, while 42% pointed to the time taken to make a return.
Other concerns included uncertainty over where or how to return containers (36%), having to store empties at home (30%) and carrying them to a return point (29%).
7% of respondents said nothing would put them off returning in-scope material.
Retail impact and refunds
YouGov said the findings suggest the DRS could also influence where people choose to shop.
Almost two-thirds (64%) said they would be more likely to shop at a retailer that makes it easy to return containers and reclaim a deposit, rising to 77% among 18 to 24-year-olds.
On how deposits should be refunded, 43% said they would prefer payment to a card or digital wallet, while 25% preferred cash. Retailer vouchers (10%) and loyalty points (9%) proved less popular, while 4% would donate their deposit to charity.
Digital refunds were most popular among younger shoppers, with 54% of 25 to 34-year-olds choosing this option compared to 34% of those aged 55 and over.
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