CSNA outline the ups and downs of the DRS
CSNA says rising costs leave retailers losing money on DRS despite record returns as grant support nears its end
Print7 July 2026
The Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association (CSNA) reprint the following extract from the RTÉ Business Section.
The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) reported some impressive figures this week – since its launch in 2024, more than three billion bottles and cans have been returned.
Its highest single day in terms of returns on 27 June saw 5.8 million returns.
Five million returns
For comparison, a typical day last month saw less than five million returns on average.
Re-turn, the private, industry-led, not-for-profit company that operates the scheme, says it is on track to meet its targets.
It’s aiming to get to 90% recycling by 2029, and is currently at 78% to 79%, with 14% still going through mixed recycling.
The operator says around 800 million additional bottles and cans are now being recycled each year.
Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn said: “The Deposit Return Scheme is performing strongly and continues to build momentum.”
Re-turn recorded €66.7 million in unredeemed deposits in 2024, these are one of three revenue streams used to fund the DRS, alongside producer fees and the sale of recycled material.
It said all income is reinvested in operating, expanding and improving the scheme.
The company said this includes funding consumer education and awareness campaigns, paying retailer handling fees, transport and logistics, processing and recycling costs, and ongoing investment to improve return rates and scheme accessibility.
Despite the strong figures the scheme is not without its critics.
Consumers complain of having to hoard bottles and cans at home and then bring them to a return machine where they often must queue, and that bins are regularly full or out of order
The president of the CSNA said there are around 2,850 reverse vending machines in the country and around 1,000 qualified for the grant in the first year.
The grant, which is up to €4,000 per year for three years if you collect less than 250,000 units, is due to run out next year.
Following a survey with their members, they found that indoor machine installation costs for a basic model were around €13,000 plus VAT, with the majority buying models for around €16,000.
Outdoor installations, according to members, cost an additional €15,000 approximately for building works and connectivity.
They reported additional costs for labour costs for staff to empty and clean the machines of around €178 per week or around €9,000 annually, and a yearly maintenance fee of up to €1,000.
They also cited loan repayments, rising electricity costs, cloths and paper for the machine and grit in the winter and deodorisers in the summer, bringing the total running costs to around €15,000.
‘We’re technically losing money on this’ – Sara Orme
CSNA president Sara Orme said at the beginning customers returned small numbers of cans and bottles and spent the money in the shop.
But now she said it’s often big refuse sacks to the value or €20 or more and people are just collecting the cash.
“We get 2.2 cents per unit,” said Ms Orme, “that’s a lot of cans to make up €15,000.”
The 2.2 cents is based on what is the norm in Europe.
The labour costs, electricity costs and day to day running costs in Ireland are much higher than it is in Europe, commented Ms Orme.
“We’re really looking at now is everyone else in the return chain is getting paid fairly.
“But the people at the bottom, which are the retailers who are making this work in the community, are actually the ones now that are bearing the brunt of the cost of it”, she said.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy is meeting with Return CEO Ciaran Foley tomorrow.
Ms Orme said they are going to appear at that meeting as a witness to put forward their case because they’re “technically losing money on this”.
Last October the Business Post reported that five members of senior management at Re-turn, were paid a combined €1.1 million in 2024.
It said the not-for-profit employed an average of 46 staff and had total employee costs of €4 million for the year.
Read more: CSNA calls for poor box reform
© 2026, ShelfLife by CSNA
Related Articles
CSNA reminds retailers of youth employment rules →
Followers 0
Fans 0
Followers