John Bason has been appointed chair of the UK Deposit Management Organisation (UK DMO), the business-led, not-for-profit organisation tasked with designing, delivering and operating the new Deposit Return Scheme for single use plastic and metal drinks containers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.
Bason was previously Chair of FareShare where he oversaw its expansion into the UK’s leading charity tackling food waste by redirecting surplus food from retailers and producers to frontline charities. He was also finance director of Associated British Foods for more than 20 years and has held senior roles at United Biscuits.
Speaking on his appointment he said: “The Deposit Return Scheme is an opportunity to deliver a transformational change in the UK’s circular economy for these drinks containers. Having worked in markets across the world, I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact that such schemes can have. However, it is also a complex and challenging undertaking that will only be effective if it is easy for consumers to use, fair for retailers and producers of every size, and trusted by the public. That’s why I will be focused on ensuring that the views and insights of as many people as possible inform how we build the scheme.
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“I’ve been impressed by the commitment and deep experience of my colleagues who have already been appointed at UK DMO, and I share their determination to build a scheme that works for everyone. Our goal is clear: bring business and consumers together to prevent billions of bottles and cans from littering our streets, seas and countryside, whilst cutting carbon emissions in the process.”
John’s appointment marks another milestone in the establishment of the DMO and in its progresses towards the scheme going live in October 2027. Since being appointed by the governments of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland1 just over three months ago, the DMO has been engaging closely with businesses of all sizes, trade associations, consumer groups, environmental groups and a diverse array of other stakeholders as it develops the operational blueprint for the scheme. The scheme will cover drinks containers made from PET plastic, steel and aluminium between 150ml and 3 litres.
- The DMO’s responsibilities include setting up and operating the Deposit Return Scheme in line with regulations in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. This includes:
- Registering drinks producers and overseeing their compliance with scheme obligations.
- Managing the flow of deposits – including collection from consumers, reimbursement, and producer fees.
- Coordinating the return point network, including handling arrangements with retailers and operators.
- Ensuring effective collection, sorting and onward recycling of returned containers.
- Developing fraud prevention and anti-counterfeit measures, including approved labelling and barcoding.
- Collecting and reporting data to meet statutory requirements and support enforcement.
- Engaging with consumers, retailers, local authorities and devolved governments to support scheme delivery.
- Monitoring performance against statutory targets – including return rates – and reporting annually to Government.
