A new scheme to encourage people to recycle their drinks bottles and cans is being launched today. Around 1.9 billion drinks in bottles and cans are consumed in Ireland every year.
The Deposit Return Scheme works by charging anyone who buys a drink a small deposit for the plastic bottle or can container. Customers get their money back when they return the container to a retailer or other collection point to be recycled. Minister Ossian Smyth, who is responsible for the circular economy, said the scheme will pay for itself and each return will mean 15 cents back for the consumer for cans or bottles of up to 500ml and 25 cents above 500ml.
The minister said it is a deposit on a bottle and it can be returned to any shop, not just where you bought it.
Options on the return machine will include choosing to spend the money in the shop, receiving cash, or donating to charity.
Shops and retailers need to register for the scheme, which he said is cost neutral, adding that the shop will retain a small fee.
We are not recycling enough to meet our EU targets, we need to give people an incentive to bring back the bottle or the can,” the minister said.
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