Return Scheme is an ‘inconvenience’ we must ‘get used to’ - CEO

The Deposit Return Scheme is an "inconvenience" we must "get used to," according to the CEO of Re-turn who operates the scheme.
On The Hard Shoulder today, Ciaran Foley said the scheme has got off to a “solid start,” recycling two million containers in February when it was first introduced.
There were some 200,000 containers collected in a single day alone on February 29th across 2,200 reverse vending machines available nationwide.
Mr Foley said the opening figures compare well to other countries.
"We model our scheme on the Slovakian scheme, which went live in 2022, as we have similar populations," he said.
“They redeemed 264,000 containers in their first month and we redeemed over two million so, looking at that comparison, we’ve made a really good start.
“That scheme two years on is now doing 93% redemption rates which is really encouraging for us.”
Mr Foley said the purpose of the scheme is to have a 90% recycling rate on plastic and aluminium containers by 2029 - as per an EU directive.
“We’re at about 55% to 60% now,” he said.
“When you consider we put about two billion of these products on the market in Ireland every year, the difference between 60% and 90% is about 600 million bottles that currently are not being recycled properly.
“Even worse, they are ending up on our streets, rivers and beaches.”
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[@patrickmcg123]

I bought a bottle of water earlier in a shop, got charged extra 15cent. Drank the water and deposited the bottle back. Got a paper receipt but the que was too long in the store so I left it. It's a waste of time an inconvenience that Irish people weren't consulted on before it was put through. Similar to our current numbskull government...

[@LeMerch]

Just collect them.

[@Art-is-craft]

A lot of poor people cannot afford the upfront cost of a deposit.

[@TruePatriotfreedomfront]

How much is this CEO getting paid for this 🤔

[@chriser555]

Oh so the price will be going up every year. Fantastic. Bet nobody saw that coming. 🙄

[@andrewroche1839]

So in other words, the blue recycling bins were a big scam

[@davidfox7983]

Absolute racquet.. people have more to be at than this time wasting episode..

[@returntofleet]

Just don’t buy anything that’s part of the scheme… ❤

[@fearghalomuineachain2309]

I notice that the Return scheme has not stopped people from throwing used bottles and cans on the ground as I have seen quite a few on the ground with the return logo on them

[@theeggtimertictic1136]

Hopefully someone will collect them and get the money?

[@fearghalomuineachain2309]

@theeggtimertictic1136 I have collected quite a few to date and it means that I get a bit off my shopping but just amazed that people continue to litter them

[@verali164]

I went to my supermarket the other day with a bag of returnables and i ended up bringing the full bag around the shop because the machine was down, so then i had to bring the whole back home again.

[@fearghalomuineachain2309]

@verali164 I've had that problem as well but thankfully where I live if the machines are down in one supermarket the other supermarkets are thankfully very close by that also have the return machines but yes it is frustrating when the machines are out of order

[@theeggtimertictic1136]

@@fearghalomuineachain2309 I know ... that surprised me too!

[@bigb966]

I'm no longer buying anything with that label. They'll soon realise what they've done.👍

[@williamcannon7262]

He would say that would't he .

[@Wes-56]

I haven’t bought a bottle since it’s come in, went up the north last weekend filled the car with water and cans also had a lovely Sunday drive… I’ll be putting everything in the black bin now…

[@davidfox7983]

Of course he'd say that

[@solowingpixy8190]

3:32 is it not his company? Like whats wrong with putting it in my green bin?

[@johnwhite7648]

If they want more recycling here's an idea stop charging us an entry fee just to use a recycling center would be a start. Every time I hear or see something on whatever media about recycling first thing that pops into my head is 'oh great how much is this going to cost'.

[@jimbanda]

What a completely useless idea. Six pack of 2l bottles of water being taxed? Who tf is gonna buy that six pack and go into the street and drink them and then litter them on the side of road, I rarely if ever see a 2l bottle as litter. This jobsworth needs to reconsider the details or resign 😡😡😡

[@copevortex]

another racket

[@piee683]

What about milk bottles

[@Art-is-craft]

It is hard enough for many people to buy food without adding an up front deposit so that they can secure food. Absurd is the description.

[@user-fp4fz6zy5d]

Completely pointless 😂

[@S0mewhat_Damaged]

If it's all about "outside plastics" then why are multi pack of cans being charged extra?

[@seanconroy7222]

I hate this woke country.

[@deniscarter6613]

What about the people who are working on the Recycling Lorries are they going to be on the Dole just for them and where are they sending the bottles and can's

[@zalexie_]

people still recycling paper/cardboard

[@Art-is-craft]

@@zalexie_ But is it really being recycled? I suspect it is not being recycled and maybe sent abroad.

[@tonystack1622]

Its unwanted, nobody asked for this , we already recycle. Today at Aldi Ennis the hut was shutters down , the machines must have been broken again

[@unveedcommunity]

Create a solution to a problem that doesn't exist..why? increase green taxes to make people poorer and elites richer

[@Greggy0]

whats wrong with the green bin

[@bardylon]

Amazing idea! 😂 I used to have the inconvenience of just putting bottles and cans in my green bin at home, but now I get to pay an extra tax AND also get to bring them to a supermarket where I can wait in line to put them into a machine for a voucher to spend in that store only. Bet this also is great for creating extra jobs maintaining these machines and couldn’t possibly be increasing carbon footprint with all the additional infrastructure, machinery and collections etc?

[@cmf8575]

Great idea and I’m no environmentalist. Long overdue I used hate buying plastic bottles before as I knew not all where being recycled properly. At least know when I buy them I know I can return them and they will be recycled properly and I often used the deposit I get back and take it off the cost of my shopping or coffee ☕️.

[@iluvmyjill]

its such a scam

[@brefomaher2713]

Absolute joke defeats the purpose of a recycling bin!!I'm not buying any products that's in the return scam

[@Bootrosgali]

Newstalk get your finger out and edit down news stories for KZbin.. maybe you prefer people to tune in for the ads but I don't cos I can't stand them. Chuck and ad in the middle of the YT video or whatever..

[@pfauniversal1890]

Whinging and whining 😂

[@matthewmurren2210]

The machine in tesco sligo is down.... all three of them most of the time

[@Cullen1983]

I actually look for drinks not involved, I’ve not bought one can or drink yet. Stubbornness is strong 😂

[@Johnnyfive55]

More green votes lost. I hate it

[@Johnnyfive55]

Nonsensical

[@user-jy8rz9de3y]

Ciaran is another grifter