Re-turn, the operator of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme, today announced that over 500 million plastic bottles and cans have been returned since the scheme launched on February 1, 2024. This significant milestone was achieved over the weekend and the busiest day for returns was on Sunday, September 8 when a massive 4.32 million containers were returned in a single day.
As uptake and adoption of the scheme continues to grow, the Re-turn network of Deposit Return Points has also increased by more than 800 since its launch. There are now over 2,500 Reverse Vending Machines and over 350 manual collection return points nationwide.
As a circular economy initiative, Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme aims to move away from the ‘take, make and dispose’ culture to one of returning valuable materials and keeping them in the economy for as long as possible. Through the Deposit Return Scheme, aluminium cans can be recycled infinitely while PET plastic bottles can be recycled multiple times, reducing the need for virgin materials. By returning drinks containers, consumers are contributing to a sustainable future and guaranteeing that materials are recycled into new drinks containers. Since its launch, Re-turn has reported month-on-month growth in container returns.
Drinks Containers returned in Months:
- 2 million containers in February
- 21 million containers in March
- 51 million containers in April
- 78 million containers in May
- 91 million containers in June
- 103 million containers in July
- 111 million containers in August
Daily Average of Drinks Containers returned in Months:
- 69,000 containers a day in February
- 670,000 containers a day in March
- 1.7 million containers a day in April
- 2.5 million containers a day in May
- 3 million containers a day in June
- 3.2 million containers a day in July
- 3.6 million containers a day in August
By returning all Re-turn logo drinks containers through deposit return points rather than placing them in the recycling bin, consumers are ensuring the separate collection of a higher quality recyclate. By material by returning all in-scope drinks containers to deposit return points, we can increase our recyclate quality to 98%, from 80% before the introduction of the Scheme. The Scheme is continuing to play a significant role in reducing landfill and litter around the country.
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, with special responsibility for Circular Economy Ossian Smyth said: “The Deposit Return Scheme has really made itself at home in Ireland. Already, it seems like we have been doing this forever. Families and communities have recognised that small changes can make a big difference. Our towns, villages and roadsides are much cleaner. Clubs and charities are benefitting too from new ways to fundraise. To reach our EU collection and recycling targets, we need to build on this great start but I’m confident that we can get there by working together. Congratulations to Re-turn, all its members and the Irish public on reaching our first half billion in returns.”
Commenting on the progress of the Scheme and its future, Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn said: “Re-turn is incredibly proud of how the scheme has been embraced by the people of Ireland, and this significant milestone indicates how far it has come in terms of participation from the public. It is performing beyond our expectations, and it has been particularly gratifying to see how it has taken off at a grass-roots level among community and charity organisations utilising the scheme for fundraising. We look forward to seeing the further positive effects the scheme will have over the coming months in terms of litter prevention, community initiatives and how it will contribute to a more sustainable Ireland.”
Event organisers who want to fundraise through the Re-turn logo plastic bottle and can collections for ‘Return for Children’ or their own chosen charities, can get further guidance on how to do so by contacting communities@re-turn.ie.
