A big majority of Irish people will use the new deposit return scheme to claim back their cash, an exclusive poll by Amárach Research for Newstalk has found. 

Last week, the price of plastic bottles and aluminium cans increased by either 15 or 25 cents.

Anyone who returns their bottles or cans to a designated reverse vending machine will be refunded the 15 or 25 cents.

The aim is to boost Ireland’s recycling rates and the new polling data suggests it will do just that.

71% told Amárach they plan on using the reverse vending machines to reclaim their cash and 8% said they would not. The remaining 21% said they did not know.

Men were slightly more enthusiastic about the scheme; 73% of men said they would use the machines, compared to 70% of women.

Only minor differences were recorded across different generations; 71% of each age bracket said they would use the scheme, except those aged between 35 and 44 when it was 72%.

By region, people in Connacht/Ulster were most enthused by the scheme, with 75% planning on using it, compared to 73% in Munster, 68% in Dublin and 72% in the rest of Leinster.

Scope to expand the scheme?

When asked by pollsters whether they would recycle more if a refundable deposit was charged on all recyclable items, a significant majority said they would.

56% of respondents agreed, compared to 26% who said they would not, while 18% said they were unsure.

Again, men were slightly more enthusiastic than women; 59% of male respondents said it would encourage them to recycle more, compared to 53% of women.

By region, Dubliners were the least likely to say it would make them recycle more; only 45% said it would, compared to 61% in the rest of Leinster, 62% in Munster and 57% in Connacht/Ulster.

By age, those over 55 were the least likely to say it would influence their behaviour; 48% said it would encourage them to recycle more, compared to 62% of those under the age of 35.

'Hard to know'

Out at the Fingal Recycling Centre in Swords, Henry McKean for The Hard Shoulder found mixed opinions on the new scheme.

“It’s another stupid idea from the Government,” one man told him.

“It makes no sense.”

When pressed, he said he thought it was unlikely to change anyone’s behaviour.

“Everybody already has a green bin and they recycle in that,” he said.

“Some people still go and buy bottles in Aldi, come home and won’t bring them back to the shop and just put it in the normal bin anyway.

“People will still do what they want.”

Fingal County Council worker Andrew said he thought it was “hard to know” if it would boost recycling rates.

Overall, he considers Ireland a “dirty nation” and said there is very little interest in recycling.

“It’s an effort to clean out your dog food tin or your mayonnaise carton,” he said.

Fifteen European countries - including Ireland - have deposit return schemes.

Main image: Plastic bottle return scheme. Picture by: Alamy.com