Govt. of Ireland announces new Deposit Return Scheme to promote recycling of aluminium cans

The government of Ireland announced a new Deposit Return Scheme called ‘Re-Turn, to promote the recycling of aluminium cans and plastic bottles. Recycling aluminium requires 95 per cent of less energy as compared to making aluminium from raw materials. Additionally, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the basic production process by 97 per cent.

The scheme will be run by Deposit Return Scheme Ireland CLG, and will charge a 15-cent deposit when a beverage is bought in an aluminium can or plastic bottle, which will be later repaid to the customer once they return the product to the shop or collection station.

According to Ms O'Brien, Chief Executive of VOICE Ireland, the total recycling rate for plastic is about 30 per cent, while recycling rates for aluminium cans and plastic bottles are about 65 per cent. The deposit will be 15 cents for cans or bottles up to 500 ml and 25 cents for containers larger than that. Tony Keohane, Chairperson of Deposit Return Scheme Ireland, said green recycle bins in homes will no longer be used for recycling aluminium cans and plastic bottles once the program begins in February 2024.

"So there will be a change needed by consumers, but again, we're confident from the research we've done, we think consumers are up for this," said Keohane.

"We are not recycling enough to meet our EU targets. We've got a target for 2025 and one for 2030, and in ordetot, we believe that we need to give people an incentive to bring back the bottle or the can. Many people are putting it into their green bin, but it's just not enough and a lot are ending up on the ground. So, there is a lot of litter," said Ossian Smyth, minister of state in charge of communications and the circular economy.

He further stated that bottles and aluminium cans can be returned to any retailer that accepts them, not simply the one where the beverages were purchased. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Smyth claimed that the programme pays for itself and that everyone who touches the items along the way must be paid for their labour.

"A benefit that's going to come out of this scheme is that people are not going to have a party and leave a lot of cans and bottles on the ground because they're going to be worth money," added Ossian Smyth.