Deposit return scheme set to 'boost recycling rates and reduce litter'

Ossian Smyth and Re-Turn's Ciaran Foley launch the deposit return scheme. Picture: Julien Behal

The introduction of the deposit return scheme (DRS) will get bottles and cans "off our roadsides and beaches", a Government minister has said.

The scheme was officially launched yesterday, with the appearance of reverse vending machines (RVMs) at thousands of retailers across the country.

Customers who purchase a can or bottle with the Re-Turn logo will be able to claim back between 15 cents and 25 cents per purchase, depending on the size.

Circular Economy Minister Ossian Smyth said the initiative will "boost recycling rates, greatly reduce litter, and improve the environment". 

It will get bottles and cans off our roadsides and beaches and contribute to the circular economy by turning waste drinks containers into new bottles and cans.

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"I think people in Ireland will really get behind this scheme and make it a great success; we saw this with the introduction of the plastic bag levy and the Euro," he said.

All retailers that sell the cans or bottles which are eligible for the machines were required to register for the deposit return scheme "in order to fulfil their environmental and legislative responsibilities".

A deposit return point with reverse vending machines at Quish's SuperValu, Ballincollig, Co Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane

The Irish Examiner price-checked at six major retailers in the East of the country both on Tuesday, prior to the introduction of the scheme, and again on Thursday, after it had been introduced.

At the time of the checks, there had been no price increases on shelves in Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Dunnes Stores, SuperValu, or Centra.

While the scheme officially began on Thursday, there was no requirement for the retailers to have the reverse vending machines in operation at that point.

This was the case in a number of retailers visited by the Irish Examiner though three (Tesco, Aldi, and SuperValu) were accepting bottles and cans.

Niamh McEvoy at a reverse vending machine at M&S Omni Park in Dublin. Picture: Julien Behal

A note on shelves in some of the shops issued by Re-Turn read: "During the transition period, a small number of products that do not feature the Re-Turn logo may incur a deposit fee. Please be assured that any deposit paid will be fully refunded when you return your empty, undamaged container."

Customers will have the choice to receive their refund against a store-bought purchase or in cash.

When containers are inserted, the machine reads the containers, confirms they are part of the DRS, and then issues a voucher for the amount of containers returned. 

Re-Turn says that it is important to note that vouchers issued from an RVM must be redeemed at the same retail outlet.