Ireland’s new Deposit Return Scheme for cans and bottles is coming into effect next Thursday – but how does it work?
From February 1st, when you buy a drink in a plastic bottle, aluminium, or steel can that feature the 'Re-Turn' logo, you will pay a small deposit in addition to the price of the drink.
The first question you might be asking is where that deposit goes. The answer is Re-Turn, the company operating the new return scheme.
Chief Executive Ciaran Foley said, however, the company does not want to keep your money.
“Anyone who doesn’t return their container, we keep that money,” he told Down to Business.
“We don’t want that money – it’s really important he brings his can and bottle back and we can therefore give it to the shop they put the container in.”
Mr Foley admitted the new scheme may initially seem complicated but is quite straightforward in practice.
“When the producer sends the product to the retailer, the retailer pays the producer the deposit,” he said.
“The producer then gives that deposit to Re-Turn so we’re holding the deposit.
“When the retailer sells you the bottle or can, you pay the deposit.
“When you return the bottle or can, mainly through the reverse vending machine popping up around Ireland, you then get that deposit back.”
'Re-turn' deposit schemes in cafés
People can return the cans or bottles to participating retailers and receive a voucher for that shop or a simple cash refund.
A deposit of 15c will apply to containers 500mls or less and a deposit of 25c for each container from 500ml to 3 litres.
Mr Foley said the deposit scheme is "the biggest social behaviour change since the plastic bag levy”.
“It is a major change but ultimately, it’s all about recycling all the plastic bottles and cans on the market.
“Currently we recycle these though our mixed dry recycling – we recycle about 60%, which isn’t bad, but what that means is there is 800 million bottles and cans not being recycled.”
From February 1st, 219 SuperValu stores nationwide will introduce Reverse Vending Machines as part of the rollout of the national Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).
Re-turn's website: https://t.co/71jEcRjXLn
Full store list: https://t.co/SGpKS5XRNp#GarveysSuperValu #Dingle pic.twitter.com/sSiPbu8iFO— Garvey's SuperValu Dingle (@GarveySVDingle) January 26, 2024
Retailers with a space of less than 250 metres squared of sale space are exempt from the scheme, but can access a grant to join the scheme, according to Mr Foley.
He also explained pubs, cafes and other premises where you drink from the bottles and cans on site are part of the scheme.
“If it’s being consumed on the premises, you have the choice to charge the deposit or not,” he said.
“You will be charged by the producer, but if you’re a cafe and you that the product is being consumed on the premises, you have to choice not to charge the consumer and return the product at your nearest operator.”
People can return their cans and bottles to a new machine popping up around the country manually at a participating retailer.
Listen back here:
