A Dublin Councillor has said the Deposit Return Scheme is something the Government ‘really has to look at’ because so many people scavenge through bins for the cans. 

The Deposit Return Scheme was launched two years ago in a bid to improve Ireland’s notably low rate of recycling.

In the first year alone, 980 million containers were recycled, with an estimated 84% of the public participating in the scheme. 

However, Dublin City Council CEO Richard Shakespeare has recently hit out at ‘bin scavengers’, who go around the city, rooting through bins for containers to recycle. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, independent Councillor Nial Ring described the phenomenon as “actually ridiculous”. 

“We have guys going out every day cleaning the place,” he explained. 

“And what's happening now is they go out at 5 a.m, they clean up an area.

“Then the people come along, check, trying to get the check, checking all the Dublin City Council bins. 

“Now, remember, there's 3,500 bins in the city and they're going through them, they're dumping out stuff.

“And then the city council has to clean up again.” 

A worker demonstrates a Deposit Return Scheme Reverse Vending Machine in a Marks & Spencer supermarket in Dublin, 1-2-34. Image: Stephanie Rohan/Newstalk

Cllr Ring added that Dublin City Council estimates that the extra costs of cleaning up after the ‘bin scavengers’ is €1 million a year. 

It is money, he believes, that could be better spent on more worthwhile projects. 

“So, we're not only recycling, we're re-cleaning streets now,” he said. 

“And that is a consequence of this particular scheme, which I think we really have to look at.”

Cllr Ring continued that he had even heard of people going through the bins outside people’s homes looking for containers to recycle since the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme.

“Anecdotally, I've heard that a few times,” he said. 

“But I don't think it certainly isn't as prevalent as the people who are giving the seagulls a run for their money around town, ripping open bags and just going through them and leaving the bags there.

“That's the real issue.”

In a statement to Newstalk, Re-turn said it was "open to engagement with Dublin City Council on this issue".

"Since the scheme’s introduction, recycling rates for in-scope containers have increased from 49% to an estimated re-turn rate of over 90%, with over 76% captured directly through the scheme," a spokesperson said.

"Independent data also shows a 60% reduction in bottle and can litter nationwide, with Ireland’s coastlines recording the lowest levels in 25 years."

Main image: A man rummaging through a bin. Picture by: Alamy.com/.