| Name | Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, As Part of The Single Use Plastics Directive (2021) |
| Date Implemented | TBD (Planned for February 2024) [1] |
| Regulations | Separate Collection Regulations 2021, SI 599 of 2021 |
| Containers Covered |
Containers between 150 ml - 3L:
|
| Beverages Not Covered | Milk or dairy products |
| Unclaimed Deposits | Kept by system administrators to fund the redemption scheme |
| Redemption System | Retailers and Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) |
| Amount of Deposit |
Beverage containers ≤500 mL: 15¢ AUD |
Details
In 2020, Ireland released the "Waste Plan for A Circular Economy", a planned commitment and implementation of a deposit return scheme (DRS), as part of a greater directive to reduce plastics use, with an initial introduction in Q3 of 2022. [1] The Public Consultation on Design Options began on October 2, 2020, ending on November 12, 2020. Both stakeholders and the general public could make their suggestions on how the scheme should operate. The study before this consultation proposed a deposit fee of €0.20, and the consultation considered if this amount would be appropriate. Other questions included whether the government should operate a decentralized or hybrid DRS and what role should waste collectors play in the DRS. [3]
In November 2021, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications signed legislative regulations to introduce the deposit return scheme in Ireland on February 1, 2024. Deposit Scheme Ireland CLG (DRSI CLG), known as Re-turn, will manage the DRS as the system administrator. Under the Single Use Plastics Directive, Ireland has a redemption rate goal of 77% by 2025 and 90% in 2029.
The deposit can be redeemed by consumers or donated to charity. Consumers who deposit their containers by Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) will receive a voucher to redeem at retail stores. Containers must be undamaged to be redeemed.
Footnotes
[1] "Details of bottle and can deposit scheme announced." Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). November 28, 2022.
[2] A Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy: Ireland’s National Waste Policy 2020-2025. The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, September 4, 2020.
[3] Deposit Return Scheme Consultation Document on Potential Models for Ireland. The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, October 2, 2020.
Last Updated on June 14, 2023.