Small individual efforts can have a massive combined impact – as we witnessed recently, with the announcement that over 500 million plastic bottles and cans have been returned since the launch of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme in February.

Re-turn, the operator of the scheme, shared the news in September, noting that there’s been a phenomenal month-on-month increase in people embracing the initiative and making it part of their regular routine. From two million containers returned in February, the figures have now jumped up to a massive 111 million containers returned in August. There’s been a major leap in the average amount of containers returned per day too – from 69,000 a day in February, to 3.6 million in August.

Alongside that growth, the Re-turn network of Deposit Return Points has also increased by more than 800 since the launch – with over 2,500 Reverse Vending Machines and over 350 manual collection return points now located nationwide.

“The Deposit Return Scheme has really made itself at home in Ireland,” says Ossian Smyth, the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, with special responsibility for Circular Economy.

“Already, it seems like we have been doing this forever,” he continues. “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.”

Re-turn at Electric Picnic 2024. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

The Deposit Return Scheme is a circular economy initiative – and as such, is aiming to move us away from a ‘take, make and dispose’ culture, and instead prioritise the returning of valuable materials, to keep them in the economy for as long as possible.

Through the scheme, aluminium cans can be recycled infinitely, and PET plastic bottles can be recycled multiple times – reducing the need for raw materials. That means, when you return your drink containers, you’re contributing to a sustainable future.

By returning drinks containers through Deposit Return points, rather than putting them in the recycling bin, we can also increase our recyclate quality to 98%, compared to 80% before the scheme was launched. In addition, the initiative playing a significant role in reducing landfill and litter across the country.

“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,” comments Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn. “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.”

If you are a club, community, school or events organiser who want to fundraise through plastic bottle and can collections – for ‘Return for Children’ or their own chosen charities – can find out further information by contacting [email protected]