Is there an overview of which retailers in general have signed up for this scheme? I know that one of the local Aldi stores where I live has recently had an RVM installed, but I'm not sure if they're part of this return scheme or whether they will operate their own system, as they do in Germany.
The experience would suggest that will be minor enough. A lot of the damage done to littered cans is most likely done while its litter, not before its dropped. Kids and others are likely to ensure that they dont stay litter for long enough to get damaged.
Thanks for the info.
It seems that the scheme has limitations re. it's effect on littering.
A lot of the cans one sees littered are crushed or damaged in some way.
People won't bother picking them up if they can't get the reward.
Of course the refund will encourage the original user to return the can which is a positive.
No, or at least they would do it at a loss. Because after the shops take them they are sent to a sorting centre for scanning - in a giant rvm of sorts. So if the can doesnt scan, the shop doesnt get paid their deposit back, nor their handling fee.
That's it pretty much in a nutshell.
I suppose we'll just get on with it.
Does anyone know if shops doing manual exchange will be able to take damaged cans that the machines will reject ?
Thanks. No particular issue with the scheme especially if it improves recycling rates, I can't stand wasting resources unnecessarily. My only gripe is that someone who has always done the right thing by recycling everything via the green bin or visits to recycling centre will now be penalised for continuing to operate in that manner. Cest la vie I suppose
Re-turn. It's part of what will fund the scheme along with the producer fees
Retailers will be paid (a tiny amount) for handling returns so each returned container costs some money to handle
As a matter of interest who benefits if the deposit is not collected and for example a person continues to put all items in the green bin
Nope. DRS schemes are well tested in law and will be a pretty much mandatory part of the next EU regulations on Packaging Waste
Done in maybe a third of EU countries and well legally tested. Local labelling laws are not illegal and exist for loads of things.
Is there an anti competition/EU free movement of goods side effect of this?
That’s pretty much it. You will most likely see some small niche imported products disappear from the market. Some of the real niche beers will go. You’d have to imagine. They can sticker, but it’s a huge pain in the neck for very few sales.
It'll be illegal without the code and they'll either participate (different stock) or stop selling here.
Yeah, dunno. But the cans won't have the Irish DRS QR code so I don't know how they can participate in the scheme. Maybe importation of foreign beverages will become a crime and Amazon will have to stop offering them.
That'l be interesting. I'd put a (small) bet on that Amazon will end up charging you the deposit not long after launch. Legally they cant sell product in Ireland that's not part of the scheme. From mid March, they'd theoretically have to stop importing non scheme product into the country. Interesting to see how long you'd get it for.
There's one other option to avoid the scheme. I've opened a "subscribe & save" with Amazon to deliver a slab of cans from the UK every month. Obviously no good for alcohol, but fine for soft drinks etc. I'll continue to recycle using my green bin.
I think MUP is dependent on the Executive returning.
I suppose without MUP the DRS wouldn't be a deal breaker for regular ROI shoppers in NI.
They would just return their empties for credit like the local shoppers.
NI was never invited to join ReTurn. Minister Poots gave the basis on which the NI scheme would operate before leaving office. He made it clear that the NI scheme would align with England for the purposes of legislation. The Uk scheme is scheduled for Oct 1 2025 but early 2026 is more likely at this stage.
NI DRS is not dependent on an Executive returning. But i believe MUP probably is.
Depends on when an executive forms and what else is in the backlog when they do. I believe NI were invited to join re-turn but refused, preferring to join a UK scheme. How quickly the UK move, am not sure.
Will obviously re evaluate then, but it may be many years away.
Without a functioning assembly I wouldn't be too sure about that.
Very carefully thought out.
MUP and DRS will be in in NI within 2 years but you'll get a bit out of it.
It remains to be seen how many will follow your example and find a work around which will suit their circumstances.
There is no doubt that you seem to have it sorted.
There was another thread about this and it became clear that for someone who is already a compliant recycler this new system offers only inconvenience.
The only consolation for us good recyclers is that this new system MAY increase recycling rates and reduce littering.
Not sure why you would wash soda cans. Its not necessary for existing recycling nor for the DRS.
Washing bean tins wont matter cos tin cans for food arent in the scheme. They stay going into your green bin.
As to the point as to how the waste no longer goes to the waste companies, Re-turn is collecting from stores, returning to two sorting plants one in Dublin and Limerick and then the materials are processed and sold back to the soft drink producers who can then have it turned back into bottles and cans.
I happily recycle all plastic bottles and cans, carefully cleaning them before putting them into our recycling bin.
I detest this scheme and their cheery marketing that seeks to make people think the return of a deposit is some kind of reward.
Accordingly, I have started making the changes below so I can completely avoid it. On top of the personal satisfaction of opting out of an imho stupid scheme, the bonus is my choices are reducing plastic.
1. Will buy still water in 5l bottles, as they are exempt, and also use tap water where I can.
2. Bought a sodastream to make sparkling water and soft drinks as needed, all without plastic. So far delighted with this.
3. Bulk buy beer, and also soft drinks you can't make with Sodastream, in Northern Ireland (I usually make 2-3 visits there p.a.). Will probably buy locally in the run up to introduction (I expect many items will be discounted to run down non bar coded stock, some already are). NI means I avoid MUP too, another imho stupid idea.
Will continue to happily clean and dispose of all cans, glass and plastic bottles at home.
No one said it was for a start
Fair point
second of all are you seriously trying to suggest there’s no evidence or indeed precedent for a company increasing prices in response to a loss of profit?
Again, you are basing your guess on a guess
You are making a guess about profitability based on a guess that waste companies will not be involved in the handling of the waste.
Maybe guess is the wrong word. Assumption?
No one said it was for a start and second of all are you seriously trying to suggest there’s no evidence or indeed precedent for a company increasing prices in response to a loss of profit?
you’re surely just acting the maggot now?
Hopefully the DRS will see some of these numbers improve
Again, another guess based on nothing more than a guess
Price increases happen for any number of reasons and we've seen waste collection prices increase over the years, nothing new there
That being said, its still not a good enough reason not to proceed with the DRS.
But that’s what you’re not getting here L1011 is not saying anything is going to go on fire in the immediate aftermath but it almost certainly will lead to an increase in your domestic waste collection.
either one recycling/waste management company will benefit profit wise from ReTurn the rest will lose money and that loss will be passed to who it always is— the customer OR ReTurn have a processing plan of their own to use in which case none of the waste management companies benefit here.
But regardless the smaller and more regional companies who sell their cans to the likes of Panda or BNM are going to lose out on a lot of money if the cans recycled at home reduces dramatically.
totally agree. the value of your recycling bin will go down, so the company lifting will have to put the prices up ( mine has already gone up and I assume will do so again ) I already bring cans and bottles to a recycling point.
I put my cans through the dishwasher so they are delabelled. Maybe they could put plastic ones on so the mark stays ?
not sure how you wash cans without wetting the labels ?????
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