Will Deposit Return Scheme see us change our recycling behaviour?
Analysis: It’s probably the biggest environmental behaviour change since the plastic bag levy, but are we any good at dealing with change?
Is it a TARDIS? No, it’s a reverse vending machine. Mysterious blue boxes have been appearing in shops all across the country in recent weeks as we near D-Day for Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). The scheme goes live on February 1st, marking the beginning of a new recycling journey for the country.
From that date, the price of plastic bottle or can will increase by 15c (150ml to 500ml) or 25c (500ml to 3l). Consumers will receive this fully refundable deposit back, in cash or a redeemable voucher, when they return the undamaged bottles or cans with the Re-Turn logo to a designated return point. Return points, either manual (handing them back over the counter) or reverse vending machines, will be located in the majority of shops where bottles and cans are purchased. You don’t have to hand them back into the shop you bought them from, but you do have to redeem your voucher in the shop you return them to.