Deposit Return Scheme

Everybody in County Wicklow will have a chance to get cash when they recycle old bottles and cans thanks to a new scheme introduced by the Green Party which begins on Thursday.

To use this scheme, you simply have to find one of the machines that have been installed in almost all supermarkets across the county. These so-called reverse vending machines not only collect your plastic bottles and cans but pay you to do so. This is the Deposit Return Scheme introduced by Green Minister Ossian Smyth and it is aimed at reducing litter and boosting recycling as part of the circular economy. 

The scheme was warmly praised by Greystones Green Party Councillor Lourda Scott

“We need to replace our throwaway culture with a society that recycles and reuses material. On my monthly beach cleans with Clean Coasts North Wicklow, we regularly picky up discarded plastic bottles and cans. I hope that this scheme will help motivate people to hold onto these items and bring it to their nearest reverse vending machine.

“The reverse vending machines couldn’t be easier to use. You just go to your local store  and drop off your plastic bottles and cans. There’s no sign up required, it’s simple and convenient. Similar schemes have had great success in Europe, so now is our chance to get rubbish off our roads and into the reverse vending machines.

It is estimated that 1.9 billion plastic bottles and cans are bought every year in Ireland. Over 4,000 retailers have signed up to participate in the scheme and 3,500 reverse vending machines are being installed across the country.

The scheme is funded by a deposit of 15c on plastic bottles and cans of 500ml or less and 25c on containers larger than 500ml. This deposit is claimed by returning the containers to any participating store, even if they were bought in a different store. Consumers can choose between receiving the deposit as a store voucher or as cash.