Re-turn details the new national Deposit Return Scheme handling fees for retailers
Deposit Return Scheme aims to boost the recycling rate for drinks containers by charging a small, refundable deposit for each plastic bottle or can
Print18 January 2023
Re-turn, Ireland’s deposit return scheme, has published details of fees for retailers and producers involved in the new national Deposit Return Scheme.
It is estimated that about 1.9 billion drinks bottles and cans are consumed each year in Ireland, in-house and ‘on the go’. The Deposit Return Scheme aims to boost the recycling rate for these drinks containers by charging a small, refundable deposit for each plastic bottle or can.
From February 2024, when a consumer buys a drink in a plastic bottle, aluminium or steel can that features the Re-turn logo, they will pay a small deposit in addition to the price of the drink. When they return the empty, undamaged container to any retail outlet, they willl recieve their deposit back in full.
The scheme will include PET plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans between 150ml and 3 litres. A deposit of 15c will apply to containers 500mls or less and a deposit of 25c for each container above 500ml.
DRSI CLG, trading as Re-turn was appointed scheme operator in July 2022 and since then has engaged with retailers and producers, including representative bodies, to update them on all aspects of the scheme.
Retailers may opt for either manual return or for automatic collection, through Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs).
All retailers who operate return points and take back Deposit Return Scheme ‘in scope’ containers from consumers, will be paid the following handling fees. Price is per unit regardless of material.
- Manual Collection €0.026 per container
- Automatic Collection (RVM) €0.022 per container
Additional financial supports
In addition to the handling fee of €0.022, financial support will be available for retailers opting for RVMs, subject to meeting specified criteria: Year 1 – €3,000 Year 2 – €2,000 Year 3 – €1,000 (final payment)
To receive financial supports, a retailer must provide proof of annual sales of 450,000 ‘in scope’ containers, or proof of annual returns less than 360,000 ‘in scope’ containers.
Retailer exemptions
Any retailer operating from a premises of 150 sq. m and under may apply for an exemption from providing a take back service, but they must provide relevant evidence of store size.
Retailers applying for a take back exemption must clearly nominate a return point in close proximity, that provides a take back service. Retailers with an exemption must clearly display the location of the closest return point, to all their customers. All retailers must register with the scheme first, before applying for this exemption.
For more information, visit: re-turn.ie/
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