The adage “you cannot manage what you cannot measure” aptly pertains to modernised DRS. Regular, robust, and transparent reporting ensures that regulators can accurately measure and enforce progress against meaningful targets and assess overall system performance.

At a minimum, statutes and regulations need to clearly state enforcement procedures and penalties, along with the government agency responsible for enforcing them. (Remember Practice 1: Meaningful Targets and Penalties?)

Accountability is key to any program’s success. Performance reporting in a DRS serves to:

• Keep regulators and the public informed about progress towards codified goals
• Demonstrate the managing body’s competence, as a prerequisite for retaining their operating license

Modern DRS legislation should require the following minimum information be reported on an annual basis at the state level: 

Alongside official performance reporting, it is best practice to communicate system results to all stakeholders, especially the public. An annual report serves as an important touchpoint and should be as engaging and accessible as possible.

To build and maintain public awareness and support, annual reports should go beyond mere numbers and ought to showcase the socio-economic and environmental benefits derived from the system, such as jobs created, reduced littering rates, and avoided carbon emissions. They can also explain the overall intentions of the program, what beverages and container types are included, and shed light on the planned and existing collection point infrastructure.