Since its launch on 1 February 2024, the Irish Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has seen over 600 million bottles and cans returned. The milestone was achieved on 12 October, marking substantial progress towards creating a circular economy by retaining valuable materials in circulation.
Re-turn, the operator behind Ireland’s DRS, views the scheme as a shift from a "take, make, and dispose" culture to one focused on reuse and sustainability.
‘Return for Children’ Initiative Celebrates Success
Re-turn is also celebrating the success of its “Return for Children” initiative, which has raised €70,000 to support six national children’s charities. This initiative allows the public to donate the value of their returned containers to charitable causes. Nearly 900,000 containers were returned at summer events such as the Bord Bia Bloom Festival, Taste of Dublin, and the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium, all contributing to this meaningful effort.
Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative’s success, noting that it not only reduced litter but also generated significant funds for charities. Foley highlighted plans to expand partnerships with prominent venues such as Aviva Stadium and Croke Park, ensuring that more events provide opportunities for the public to contribute both to the environment and children’s charities.
Mary Gamble, Director of Fundraising at Barnardos, spoke on behalf of the six charities involved, expressing gratitude for the public's support. “By returning containers at events, people have played a critical role in supporting vulnerable children across Ireland while contributing to environmental protection,” she said. Gamble hopes that “Return for Children” will become a well-known feature of the DRS, making charitable contributions a natural part of Ireland’s recycling culture.
Through these initiatives, Re-turn is promoting sustainable waste management while driving positive social impact for children in need across Ireland.
View our previous article on the Deposit Return Scheme, 'Glass Exclusion for England and N.I DRS [11.10.24]'.
