New report by Reloop: “Littered with evidence: Proof that deposit return systems work”
Ahead of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice which was held from June 9-13 June 2025, a new global analysis by Reloop revealed that jurisdictions that implement or expand deposit return systems (DRS) see beverage container litter fall by more than half, on average, and by as much as 89% in some cases. The report draws on litter composition data from more than 100 jurisdictions, both with and without deposit return systems (DRS), and shows that beverage container litter drops dramatically where systems are in place.
The report uses two key types of evidence to assess this impact: Before-and-after studies, which examine changes in beverage container litter following the introduction or expansion of a DRS, as well as comparative studies, which look at the prevalence of beverage container litter in jurisdictions with and without a DRS in place.
Both lines of evidence show that jurisdictions that implement or expand DRS see substantial reductions in beverage container litter. Across Europe, the US, and Australia, deposit systems cut beverage container litter by more than 50% on average, with individual studies showing reductions between 40% to 70%, and in some cases even higher. These reductions are evident across different geographies and hold true regardless of whether the studies focus on roadside, urban, or coastal litter.
The report shows that implementing a DRS can rapidly cut beverage container litter by substantial margins, often within a short timeframe, delivering an immediate and meaningful reduction in pollution and biodiversity harm. It also eases the growing financial burden of litter clean-up, which is becoming increasingly costly for municipalities and beverage brand owners.