From this week, shoppers can choose to donate their deposit return refunds to Irish children’s charitable organisations at the reverse vending machines in all 183 Tesco stores nationwide.
Aligned to Tesco’s community strategy supporting children’s health, seven national children’s charities will benefit initially from these donations.
Childline by ISPCC, Children’s Health Foundation, the Jack & Jill Foundation, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, Make-A-Wish Ireland, Barretstown, and Barnardos will all equally share from the generosity of customers donating their refunds.
All donations will be used by these charities to fund impactful projects and initiatives that support children’s health, wellbeing, and education across Ireland.
Based on conservative estimates of less than 5% of deposit return refunds being donated by shoppers in Tesco alone, these groups have the potential to share in up to €1 million this year.
"We are excited to offer our customers another convenient way to contribute to meaningful charities." said Darrin Honer, Country Operations Manager at Tesco. "This program not only encourages recycling but also empowers our customers to make a difference in their communities and to the lives of children in Ireland."
Since the Deposit Return Scheme launched in February 2024, over 200 million drinks bottles and cans have been recycled at machines in Tesco Ireland stores. The retailer’s Extra stores in Drogheda, Clearwater (Dublin), Liffey Valley (Dublin), Clarehall (Dublin) and Naas are among its busiest locations for recycling returns, with three to four million bottles and cans brought back in each store to date. On average 4.5million bottles and cans are returned at Tesco stores nationwide each week.
