The new recycling system

This includes the requirement for accessibility of RVMs. RVM Suppliers and RPOs must ensure the machines are accessible. Compliance by 9 other stakeholders will be outlined in other relevant documents, such as the material specification. While every effort has been made to provide comprehensive and accurate information on the requirements and specifications, RVM Suppliers must form their own conclusions about the solution needed to meet the specifications.

Well that is comprehensive and reassuring.

Either way not much good to you if can't actually get to them though.

I doubt many supermarkets will be selling bottles and cans eligible for the scheme at that stage. More likely to be selling off non-ReTurn logo containers before the deadline.

I look forward to your update never the less!!

You may be happy to hear that re-turn is not completely bad news for the consumers of Ireland. One good thing is the reduced price on old barcodes stock you may pick up between now and 1 June.

Lidl are aiming to wash through all their old stock by 10 Feb, and are already discounting anything in a plastic bottle or can. Reductions of 25% to 40% on soft drinks and beer.

I couldn't see anything yet in Dunnes, no doubt all retailers will have stock to sell. Shame we can't suspend MUP, it's killing the joy as intended.

Can beer be discounted?

I though MUP did away with that.

Yes it can.

MUP is based on the alcoholic content of the beer IE. 4.3, 5.0 etc that you see on the can.

There is a minimum price set accordingly.

However there is no maximum price so retailers will sell for as much as they can.

In the case of craft breweries which don't have the same economies of scale as larger breweries their beers cost more to produce anyway.

As Genghis says Lidl are currently discounting craft beers and there is value to be had.

Only a shadow of pre MUP discounts but worth checking out.

Any decent Pale Ales?

As far as I could see it was basically anything in a can, both craft beer and standard beers like Guinness and Smithwicks. There was one exception to that but it was a high ABV beer called lazy something, maybe it retailed at MUP and couldn't be discounted.

Some items had sold out, so if you have something in mind maybe head down sooner.

Decent shelf life too, May to September I found.

Not really a win but you do get your money back.

Would love to see bottled milk return. There has been some recent re-investment in milk deliveries (mymilkman.ie being developed and advertised, etc), albeit not so far as bringing back bottles, it is a delivery only model. It's also not nationwide but certainly covers the majority of homes.

If there are an 1.8bn containers in scope for re-turn, I wonder how many tetrapak and plastic containers are sold here for milk and other dairy products p.a.?

Re-use is many times better on all fronts than recycling, this also deals with dairy waste, something re-turn have opted themselves out of.

It will be interesting to see how we tackle dairy packaging waste in the future.

It was stated earlier in the thread that dairy companies lobbied against the inclusion of their plastic containers.

I also heard an interview on radio where odour was given as a reason for excluding them.

That's how the proponents style it. Do you have a bin collection that you pay for? Whatever colour your bins: rubbish, recycling and composting perhaps?

This is the system we brought in to replace the old 'pop man'. You/ we/ the consumer pays for it and it works for responsible citizens.

What we are now being ordered to do from on high, is create a new waste stream of these drinks cans & bottles, then drive somewhere where we can get a few cent back.

Meanwhile you/ we'll still have to pay for our bins and it's likely costs of this will rise as the bin companies lose the more valuable recyclables.

In other words there has been no attempt to integrate the old 'pop man' scheme and the current recycling system.

Extra work and cost is being pushed onto you, so that 1) the state can count these cans/ bottles and prove numbers to EU bureaucrats and 2) others will be enriched at your expense - the quango Return and the manufacturers/ suppliers of RVM machines at €15K a pop.

Yes, and as anyone who ever had a barbecue knows wasps love drowning themselves in beer.

Your explanation makes some sense.

ctrl+f dairy - these are the reasons Scotland omitted dairy and I assume our rationale was a similar.

Cant say I agree with any of them personally.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/deposit-return-scheme-scotland-analysis-responses/pages/7/

Thanks, that's interesting.

Given the legendary power of the farming lobby in Ireland I'd say they went in feet first against inclusion.

Doesn't that tell you everything you need to know though. We could be fined if we don't count our bottles and cans going to recycling?

Just who makes decisions in this state, that affect the citizens??