The deposit refund initiative has dealt with over 200 million metal and plastic vessels since its launch in February, with daily returns now close to 3 million. Although initial progress was sluggish, the scheme has gained momentum with more than half of all eligible vessels now effectively returned and recycled.
The first month saw only 2 million vessels returned, but this rose to 20 million in March, with nearly 50 million processed in June. Re-turn remarked on the growing trend, attributing it to both the public’s commitment to recycling and the continuing success of the scheme.
It was highlighted that by separating plastic and aluminum from the standard recycling, the quality of the recycled materials increases to 98%, compared to a lesser 80% with conventional recycling methods. The scheme enables infinite recycling of aluminium cans and multiple recycling of PET plastic bottles, thereby minimising the use of new materials.
Ciarán Foley, CEO of Re-turn, praised the commitment of Irish consumers since the scheme’s introduction. He believes the array of reverse vending machines throughout the country is “set to handle a new surge in demand”, particularly with the upcoming summer period where increased consumption of bottles and cans is anticipated.
This month, Re-turn revealed ‘Return for Children’, a charity fundraising project in partnership with six Irish children organisations. The scheme offers participants at specific events the chance to donate their bottle and can deposits to the charities through dedicated Re-turn bins.