Ireland’s DRS sees two million containers returned since launch
The EU has set Ireland a target for the separate collection of 77% by 2025 and 90% by 2029
Print7 March 2024
During February, Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) witnessed 705,000 transactions, culminating in the return of more than two million drinks containers to participating shops and supermarkets nationwide.
Re-turn, the operator of the DRS, recorded Thursday, 29 February as the most active day in February with just under 201,000 drinks containers returned.
There are now 2,202 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) and more than 150 manual return points across 1380 deposit return locations, facilitating the growing number of consumers helping to reduce litter and achieve our EU recycling targets.
DRS’s are active across 15 European countries and have successfully promoted positive recycling practices. Ireland’s rates of initial participation are very strong when compared to our EU counterparts. Romania, with a population of more than 19 million, launched its DRS on 1 December 2023. It collected 31,000 containers in its first month of operation and 2.24 million in its second month.
The DRS is a practical circular economy initiative that aims to create a closed-loop recycling system guaranteeing that the material is returned and recycled. The EU has set Ireland a target for the separate collection of 77% by 2025 and 90% by 2029.
Ciaran Foley, chief executive officer, Re-turn, said: “I am really encouraged by the support and participation shown by Irish consumers during the first month of the scheme. Over this past weekend, we collected another 670,000 containers and to have nearly three million deposit returns at this early stage shows a willingness and commitment to reducing litter, protecting our environment and better recycling.
“We understand that this is a huge behavioural change for all Irish consumers, and we appreciate everyone’s patience during the four-month transition period as retailers sell through non-deposit products, together with Re-turn logo stock and some stock that may incur a deposit but does not feature the Re-turn logo… From June, all drinks containers in plastic bottles or aluminium cans included in the scheme from 150ml to three litres will feature the Re-turn logo.”
Latest: Deposit Return Scheme: No VAT on deposit for retailers
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