Deposit Return Scheme hailed as a positive success In Cork
Cork celebrates the success of the Deposit Return Scheme, a major step forward in consumer recycling behaviour and litter reduction in Ireland
Print2 September 2024
The introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and aluminium cans is one of the “most positive” consumer behaviour initiatives to happen in Ireland “for decades”, according to the CSNA.
The scheme aims to reduce the amount of litter across Irish towns, villages and countryside, by incentivising consumers to recycle their empty items using the on-site DRS collection machines.
This is according to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), who likened the success of the campaign to that of the smoking ban, which was introduced in Ireland more than 20 years ago.
Recycling milestones
The DRS was introduced by the department in February.
It has since seen 278 million bottles and cans returned, with the average daily rates now regularly exceeding three million containers, adds CSNA.
This equates to €48 million in deposits refunded to consumers in-store, averaging just over €500,000 per day.
The independent convenience store and newsagent group notes that prior to the introduction of the DRS, Ireland had one of the lowest rates of recycling of PET and aluminium drinks bottles and cans, with approximately only 60% of all drinks containers being recycled.
Similar schemes introduced across Europe have been successful in increasing this number in line with the EU target of 77% of all drinks containers to be recycled by 2025.
Retailer observations
“What we’ve noticed is the young people, their habits haven’t changed, they’re still throwing bottles in the bin,” said Denis O’Flynn, previous president, CSNA.
O’Flynn is also the fourth generation shopkeeper of O’Flynn’s grocers shop in Ladysbridge.
He notes there’s a lot more bottles being left on the tables out the front and he would pick up an average of five to seven bottles when locking up every night.
“From a national point of view, and a green point of view, it’s been a success,” he added.
O’Flynn stated that they have not seen a drop in sales at their store, but further revealed that refuse companies have said they are at a loss.
“They’re down on profit because they don’t have those bottles to recycle,” he said.
As a store that does not have on-site DRS collection machines, Mr O’Flynn said that following renovation works, they plan to implement one at their location to encourage future use of the scheme amongst customers.
“The education on the scheme hasn’t gotten down to the youth, they still walk away and leave the bottles behind them,” he said.
“We will be doing renovations shortly, so we will look to get one in the future, but we just don’t have the space for one at the moment.”
Early indicators
The latest Irish Business Against Litter results, published in June, provide an early indication that the DRS is contributing to lower litter levels nationwide, showing a 30% reduction in drinks cans thrown away and a 20% reduction in plastic bottles on streets.
“The results are very promising, particularly given that the DRS was still in the transition phase during the survey period,” said a spokesperson for the DECC.
Participation in DRS has been very positive, similar to the plastic bags initiative, or the ban on harmful cigarette smoke in workplaces.
“It is doing two vital things; reducing litter and combating the scourge of single-use plastics on the environment, by ensuring that these containers get separately collected for recycling,” they added.
“We fully expect DRS to achieve or exceed the ambitious recycling targets set in the EU Single Use Plastics Directive.”
Read more: CSNA issues important reminder regarding Reverse Vending Machines
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