Eimear from Galway has expressed dissatisfaction with the Deposit Return Scheme, which has been in operation for over 60 days. Despite often being diligent about recycling, the recent changes have left her feeling disgruntled and many others share her sentiments.
After returning from her usual grocery shopping, Eimear expressed her frustration. As is widely known, the Deposit Return Scheme was implemented on the 1st of February, introducing a price hike in the form of a “refundable deposit” on drinks containers made from plastic and aluminium. Although Eimear wasn’t enthusiastic about these alterations complicating her recycling routine, she was prepared to give it a try for the sake of boosting the nation’s recycling rates.
She added a dedicated bin for drinks containers to her usual collection of bins for rubbish, recycling, compost, and glass. She filled this drinks bin and took it along to a major supermarket while doing her weekly shop, adapting to the new system in order to reduce environmental impact.
However, her commitment began to falter when she faced difficulties at the return stage. During her shopping trip, she was dismayed to find the return machine was non-operational and thus refusing to accept containers, forcing her to take the filled bin back home.
The next day, her attempt to return her recycling at a different chain local store also proved unsuccessful when again she was met with a ‘Unavailable’ message on the return machine. Eimear voiced her perturbation to Pricewatch about her months of unfruitful efforts to recycle her drinks containers under the new scheme.
Twice weekly, Eimear visits one of the numerous supermarkets in Galway city with her recyclable containers, yet she has consistently failed to locate a functioning deposit return machine that accepts cans. All her manual return attempts have been rebuked, with staff members advising her to return when the machines are operational, maintaining a constant cycle of failure.
Eimear is puzzled and cites that while supermarkets are lawfully required to charge a deposit on containers bearing the Re-Turn logo (she has also been burdened with deposit charges on containers absent of the Re-Turn logo or a barcode, a separate grievance), it seems they are not under a legal duty to keep their machines operational.
In concession, she recognises that the introduction of any new scheme may encounter some initial hitches, but her continual inability to locate a functioning return machine is baffling to her. Concerned about environmental impacts, Eimear terms the deposit charges as a way for the government to appear proactive in addressing the nation’s disappointing recycling rates, expressing her confusion over the solution and when her deposits will be refunded.
In response, Re-Turn expressed regret over Eimear’s experience and expressed appreciation for her patience. They acknowledged intermittent down times with the reverse vending machines (RVMs) and thanked consumers for their understanding and patience. The RVM system, they elaborated, is currently functioning at 85% uptime across the network, a figure that is steadily rising.
The spokesperson encouraged consumers to report any RVM related issues promptly to the store staff, allowing the retailer to inform the machine manufacturer. Consumers also have the option to contact Re-Turn directly through email, chatbot or social media to report any machines downtime.
Regarding machine faults, the spokesperson clarified that incorrect items inserted or overloaded machines could be potential causes and urged customers to remember that only drink containers in PET plastic bottles, aluminium and steel cans from 150ml to three litres are compatible with the deposit return scheme.
The requirement for supermarket shelf price tags to clearly display the deposit as a separate entity has been stressed by a representative from Re-Turn. In instances where promotional offers incorporate items carrying the Re-Turn logo, the total deposit should appear below the chief price, serving as an extra fee. Moreover, retailers must affix the scripts ‘*Deposit applies to beverages containers featuring the Re-Turn logo’, with an asterisk leading the phrase.
This was highlighted when Linda Waters observed that a 12-pack of fizzy water labelled with a shelf price of €4.85 actually cost €6.65 at the checkout counter. The total cost factored in the deposit (0.15 x 12), leading her to question whether it is an obligation for retailers to display the true cost of goods given that the deposit isn’t optional.
Speaking of the deposit scheme, the Re-Turn representative recounted that, as of the time of her statement, the total number of returned containers had exceeded 16 million. Despite the impressive figure, speculations about a high number of bottles and cans still being discarded persist. With the scheme barely 50 days old and daily sales records of qualifying containers exceeding 5 million in Ireland, it appears a significant amount of purchased items are not returned, presumably because consumers, like Eimear, find the process of claiming their deposit too cumbersome.