Recycling Plastic Bottles for Cash

Andy From Sligo · 13-02-2017 11:42pm #1

wife has just returned from Hamburg and said there were machines in the supermarkets there where you can put in plastic bottles (drinks bottles/water bottles etc) and it crushed them and give you 25cents per bottle. Some bloke took a load in and got 4euro back!

- why arent we at that stage or does someone know if it is done in Ireland already?.

- she said there were machine for glass bottles too and give you money back.

Cheshire Cat · 21-02-2017 8:53pm

That's because you pay a deposit for the bottles when you buy them. It's to "encourage" people to return them for recycling because they lose the money otherwise.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Container_deposit_legislation

According to the Wikipedia article an Irish company was one of the first to use a system like that (in 1799!) Must have fallen out of fashion here

_Brian · 21-02-2017 8:57pm

Cheshire Cat wrote: »

That's because you pay a deposit for the bottles when you buy them. It's to "encourage" people to return them for recycling because they lose the money otherwise.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Container_deposit_legislation

According to the Wikipedia article an Irish company was one of the first to use a system like that (in 1799!) Must have fallen out of fashion here

I'm not that old (well a bit) but I well remember a deposit and return on soft drinks bottles here in Ireland.

Cheshire Cat · 21-02-2017 9:30pm

I moved to Ireland 12 years ago and haven't come across a deposit system. Must have been before "my time".
There wouldn't be any harm in reintroducing the system!

two wheels good · 22-02-2017 11:19am

There are many countries that use a refundable deposit scheme - and many states in the USA do also. (Even Texas wanted to introduce it I read in that link)

Anyone want to join me on a campaign to try to have it introduced here in Ireland?

Some years ago when packaging legislation and Repak was under review I wrote to the minister (Phil Hogan, remember him?) to advocate the deposit system but got fobbed-off with a spoofer's response.

The amount of drinks containers picked up in litter is enormous. Soon, with new incinerators planned, what do you think they'll be burning?

BTW The long-ago bottle deposit scheme was a brewery/drinks company scheme not govt. legislated, and applied to glass bottles only. Plastic bottles were rare back then, maybe newly introduced for milk bottles.

hytrogen · 22-02-2017 11:30am

two wheels good wrote:

Anyone want to join me on a campaign to try to have it introduced here in Ireland? Some years ago when packaging legislation and Repak was under review I wrote to the minister (Phil Hogan, remember him?) to advocate the deposit system but got fobbed-off with a spoofer's response.

I'll definitely vote for that!
Also I think a spate of "bottling people" back in the 80's & 90's tapped it on the head, excuse the pun, to sell glass packaged soft drinks here as so many kids were at it.
I'm very conscientious about my packaging now, especially from being at sea and seeing the amount of plastics floating around the world, whales and dolphins washing ashore with plastic in their guts, turtles with plastic nets around their neck etc. We've all seen it to some degree. Also from being over in Hamburg last year I'm definitely in favour of this, the empowerment it gave to the homeless, jobless I never once was approached for money, only my beer bottle when I was outside the pub. Great incentive to give people hope and prosperity and they were so polite!

rgfuller · 22-02-2017 12:06pm

This has been discussed/proposed in the UK in recent years - however:- there are issues, namely it would be unlikely to change behavior, has a high cost and adds minor inconvenience for current recycling processes.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/15/plastic-bottle-tax-unlikely-government-rejects-deposit-scheme/
&
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/oct/01/bottle-deposit-scheme-costly-counterproductive

two wheels good · 22-02-2017 8:18pm

rgfuller wrote: »

This has been discussed/proposed in the UK in recent years - however:- there are issues, namely it would be unlikely to change behavior, has a high cost and adds minor inconvenience for current recycling processes.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/15/plastic-bottle-tax-unlikely-government-rejects-deposit-scheme/
&
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/oct/01/bottle-deposit-scheme-costly-counterproductive

I think it would change behaviour significantly and promptly. It works elsewhere, no reason it wouldn't work here - as long as there was good coverage of locations\machines to support it.

I'm more surprised the UK govt. considered the issue than its rejection. The UK was very slow to adopt a trivial plastic bag tax. Corporations have a lot of influence e.g. rejection of the sugar tax also.
The excuse of "being careful about punishing those who are already doing the right thing" is very flimsy.

The Guardian article:
The author "Jane Bickerstaffe is the director of The Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment." So it's a case of .."she would say that, wouldn't she."

The readers' comments below the line are much more informative. e.g.
Jane Bickerstaffe, director at the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (Incpen), even claims packaging aided the emancipation of women.
"In the 1930s women spent on average three hours a day shopping for, and preparing, food. Now, if they choose to get a ready meal delivered, and one that is in microwaveable packaging, it's possible to do it all in a few minutes."
Some PR people have such a brass neck.

Andy From Sligo · 23-02-2017 2:02am

Watching Sky News Today and I think there could be a pilot scheme run soon in Scotland to see money back on recycling Coke bottles:

http://news.sky.com/story/coca-cola-in-u-turn-over-plastic-bottle-deposit-scheme-10777393

two wheels good · 23-02-2017 10:48am

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

Watching Sky News Today and I think there could be a pilot scheme run soon in Scotland to see money back on recycling Coke bottles:

http://news.sky.com/story/coca-cola-in-u-turn-over-plastic-bottle-deposit-scheme-10777393

Good news. I wondered if Edinburgh might take a different view to Westminster. They'll be popping north of the border with car boots full of empties.
I read a comment in a earlier link about one state in USA with the refund scheme where redemption was greater 100%. Suggesting residents in the neighbouring state without the scheme were crossing state lines. Maybe not a desireable consequence.

In Ireland I think the only serious problem with introducing the scheme would be upsetting the economics of existing recycling operations. In the UK this may well be easier to overcome where refuse and recycling collection is still council run.

[Edit]
Just reading the article now. According to Coca Cola - no less!....
"We've also been talking to and listening to our consumers and know two thirds (63%) of them support the introduction of a deposit return system in the UK, and half (51%) say they'd be more likely to recycle as a result.

From our experience elsewhere in Europe, we know that deposit schemes can work if they are developed as part of an overall strategy on the circular economy, in collaboration with all industry stakeholders.

We are open to exploring any well-thought-through initiative that has the potential to increase recycling and reduce litter."

I'll be mentioning that in my letter to the minister.

techignorance! · 05-03-2017 11:12am

two wheels good wrote: »

Good news. I wondered if Edinburgh might take a different view to Westminster. They'll be popping north of the border with car boots full of empties.
I read a comment in a earlier link about one state in USA with the refund scheme where redemption was greater 100%. Suggesting residents in the neighbouring state without the scheme were crossing state lines. Maybe not a desireable consequence.

In Ireland I think the only serious problem with introducing the scheme would be upsetting the economics of existing recycling operations. In the UK this may well be easier to overcome where refuse and recycling collection is still council run.

[Edit]
Just reading the article now. According to Coca Cola - no less!....
"We've also been talking to and listening to our consumers and know two thirds (63%) of them support the introduction of a deposit return system in the UK, and half (51%) say they'd be more likely to recycle as a result.

From our experience elsewhere in Europe, we know that deposit schemes can work if they are developed as part of an overall strategy on the circular economy, in collaboration with all industry stakeholders.

We are open to exploring any well-thought-through initiative that has the potential to increase recycling and reduce litter."

I'll be mentioning that in my letter to the minister.

I think it would also be worth sending the letter to Minister Coveney as he has mentioned the need to act on the marine little epidemic a few times so he may be open to this.

Maybe government could reach out to Coca Cola as a starting point since they are open to doing something.

Yes there are challenges as with any new initiative like this but I agree that it would have a significant change on behaviour just as the plastic bag levy did.

I'm sure there is an Irish campaign already out there that we could support and maybe even start a petition or share a letter template to send to Ministers asking them to take action...

Looks like I have a bit of research to do! ðŸ˜‰

two wheels good · 06-03-2017 1:15am

techignorance! wrote: »

I think it would also be worth sending the letter to Minister Coveney as he has mentioned the need to act on the marine little epidemic a few times so he may be open to this.

Maybe government could reach out to Coca Cola as a starting point since they are open to doing something.

Yes there are challenges as with any new initiative like this but I agree that it would have a significant change on behaviour just as the plastic bag levy did.

I'm sure there is an Irish campaign already out there that we could support and maybe even start a petition or share a letter template to send to Ministers asking them to take action...

Looks like I have a bit of research to do! ðŸ˜‰

Yes, Mr Coveney would be an obvious target. New incinerator proposed in his constituency, he is my TD, potential future leader ...
But I remember he was the Minister of Ag.who delayed acting on the use neonicotinoids despite bans elsewhere.

I saw part of a report on Sky News over the weekend about the proposals in the UK. It is topical, so maybe a good time to act. I've been promising myself to write a few letters for ages. Time for action instead of online outrage.

Any other suggestions welcome - for letter recipients, arguments to present, minsters to door-step, offices to absail, executives to kidnap etc ?

L1011 · 12-03-2017 5:10pm

The deposit needs to be rather high to make sure people actually bother (the 50 ore one in Denmark is too low for a tourist, even one addicted to caffeine, to seek out how to do it - left them stacked in my hotel room for the cleaners if they wanted to); but also low enough to prevent actual theft of materials as can happen elsewhere - and did happen here with the old bottle return system where kids would climb in to the yards of shops to steal empties and re-return them!

It can also cause littering issues as people dig through publc bins/tear open waste sacks to look for them - saw this in Oregon. When I was in Oregon I did do it - the empties after a party added up to a few dollars.

I would wonder if there's any studies to see if it has a negative affect on the viability of kerbside glass collections - which I know are rare here anyway.

Stevolende · 31-07-2017 2:23pm

I've been wondering about how to recycle things like squash bottles since all my rubbish is going to landfill. I apparently have no control over who handles my waste, in as much as the landlord seems to control everything for the houses they own. I have a communal bin set up which consists of several skip like containers that all go to landfill including food waste and potential recyclables.

I would like to find somewhere that I could drop things off including plastic containers, cardboard, food etc. Missing the old system where most of my rubbish was going into my own recycling bin or green compost one.
Feeling taht I can't be alone in being stuck with a waste set up controlled by a landlord. One designed to serve a number of households and ignoring the greener aspects of waste disposal.

I live in Galway.

the_pen_turner · 31-07-2017 2:36pm

I think this shows how bad we are in the country.

In Sweden they have these machines in every shop. Thee is almost no extra effort to use it. Pop the bottle in press next it finish and it takes the next bottle or prints a voucher. The shop then scans the voucher and uses it like cash.
I would rather have a card where the credit built up.

This cou try is a disgrace. Why can't we have a good recycling center in every village and town in the country. Integrate it with the local council and gas scheme so that there is always someone there during the day to you are in electrical and recycling.

JVince · 08-01-2024 8:44pm

Your wishes have been granted 😄

reubenreuben · 01-02-2024 7:46pm

What happens when you get the bottles delivered to your home as part of a food shop ? How do you return them if you are disabled or have no transport.

Genuine question.

Calahonda52 · 01-02-2024 7:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121707394#Comment_121707394

Once it beds down, I can see the home delivery stores offering a collection system, in addition, the same as a a return service developed from online shopping, there will be alternatives to bringing them back.

I also expect the deposit levy to go up once it beds down, like fag tax.

A euro a item deposit would drive consumer behaviour big time

The J Stands for Jay · 01-02-2024 7:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121588811#Comment_121588811

Don't encourage him

reubenreuben · 01-02-2024 8:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121707418#Comment_121707418

Hope they do that for the online shoppers. Its quite a substantial increase 25c on a bottle of sparkling water for example. They only cost 50-60c so its a big jump.

Kaisr Sose · 01-02-2024 8:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121707418#Comment_121707418

I did not hear any retailer mentioning this as a short, medium or long-term plan. I could imagine it would be very disruptive to their delivery process.

Recycling Plastic Bottles for Cash

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