On 1 February 2024, Ireland introduced the Deposit Return Scheme (“DRS”). When purchasing a drink in a container that falls under this scheme (such as plastic bottles, and aluminum or steel cans), and featuring the Re-turn logo, customers will pay a small deposit in addition to the drink’s price. This deposit is fully refundable upon returning the empty and undamaged container to any registered Deposit Return Point. Deposits are set at 15 cents for containers between 150ml and 500ml and 25 cents for containers over 500ml, up to 3 litres.
As a retailer, it is your obligation to ensure compliance with DRS regulations. Non-compliance may result in penalties. As per the regulation, only Re-turn logo stock must be offered to customers starting from 1 June 2024.
Managing DRS Deposits via the “Bottle Deposit” Field
For all eligible drink containers listed on your menu that feature the Re-turn logo, add the deposit in the “Bottle Deposit” field. You can do this with the Menu Maker tool on Uber Eats Manager by following the steps given in this step-by-step guide.
Important Points to Note:
- Adjusting the “Bottle Deposit” amount will NOT alter the item’s price. To include the deposit in the overall price, simply add the deposit amount to the current item price (i.e., if an item costs £10 with a bottle deposit of £0.15, you would input £10.15 as the price and £0.15 as the deposit).
- If your restaurant has an active POS order or menus integration with Uber Eats, ensure your integrator applies the deposit via the ‘container_deposit’ field here through the API. If you encounter issues, please consult your POS integration partner. Note that updating the “container_deposit” amount will NOT impact the price when ordering.
- If your restaurant’s menu is managed centrally by an entity, please contact them for further guidance.
Guidance on Deposit Amounts in the Menu
Only containers made of PET plastic bottles; as well as aluminum and steel cans ranging from 150ml to 3 litres are included within the Scheme. All drink containers included in the Deposit Return Scheme will feature the Re-turn logo. For consistency and transparency around pricing towards customers, please ensure pricing follows the Re-turn guidelines:
- Items from 150ml to 500ml have a deposit of €0.15
- Items over 500ml, up to 3 litres have a deposit of €0.25
Bundled Items
For “combos” or “bundles” that include eligible drinks, there are added item customisations that you must include:
- The following text in the item description: “Deposit applies to drinks featuring the Re-turn logo. 15c for 150-500ml and 25c for over 500ml – 3 litres.”
- Adjusted customisation names to reflect deposits, e.g., Change “Drink” to “Drink (+15c Deposit)”.
- Charge the deposit via the item customisation price appropriately. (i.e. set the item customisation value to 15c or 25c accordingly).
VAT Rates on Deposit Fees [Updated – Jan 2025]
Our systems automatically exclude VAT from deposit fees (on eligible items) ensuring accurate calculation and monitoring within UEM. This exemption simplifies financial tracking and reporting.
Promotion and Commission-Free Deposits
We are pleased to offer promotion and commission-free deposits on all DRS-eligible items. This automatically excludes bottle fees from any commissions charged by Uber, removing any need for reimbursements.
Need help with editing your Menu?
Access our step-by-step guide to help you make the necessary changes in your menu. For further assistance, please contact support at ukirestaurants@uber.com.Thank you for your partnership as we continue to work together toward a more sustainable future. To learn more about our sustainability commitments, visit our website.
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