I like the scheme as a concept but some of the implementation is a bit wild.
For self service checkouts that give you the option of printing a receipt, are they supposed to show if the levy applied on the checkout screen itself?
I have 8 empty cans of Guinness to return , when I get my voucher from the machine , can I use that voucher towards the cost of another 8 pack? Isn’t the use of vouchers outlawed now on buying alcohol ?
It's not technically a voucher, it's your deposit back, I guess?
Its a cash equivalent like a gift card, you can use it to buy the usual prohibited voucher products.
Maybe the question is would Re-Turn be able to do anything if they knew it was happening? Would they care?
There could be so many unclaimed deposits they wont give a sh!t.
That was ossian smyth trying to get the numbers up
Or get a sheet of 24 stickers that the barcodes can go on...
https://www.tiktok.com/@deadcentrebrewing/video/7337749550804880672
Could they bring in some shite where you have to prove you bought the original cans and bottles with receipts.
I was out and about yesterday and happened to pass 4 of these machines - two at a supervalu in a busy square, one at a Dunnes, another at a busy petrol station.
Not one of them in use.
I also watched the latest Grand Tour episode yesterday too which had the 3 lads doing a trip through Western Africa. Interestingly one thing that jumped out was the amount of crushed and otherwise used plastic bottles thrown around the various towns that they went through - to the point that they became a prop in one of the challenges. I guess that's where all our "recycling" ends up?
In any case, my "new" cans are still going into the same place as always - the bin, and when it's full they'll be going into the boot of the car and up to the landfill.
You can mass laser print barcodes at home for pennies, but non-deposit containers are going to become rare anyway, so the scheme won't collapse.
With so many deposits being charged for already and machines not accepting them or not having the barcodes updated, there must be a nice pot in there unclaimed already.
I can't imagine this company will be "Not For Profit" for long. Bound to be some fuckery, theft or some politician who already has his eye on a slice.
Have they said if they don't reach certain targets each year will the deposits be raised?
It is legislatively impossible for it to stop being not for profit.
If there's money left over, they reduce the amounts they charge the producers (who are the owners); if they don't make enough to cover costs they put the charges to producers up.
Man bites dog!
I may be misding something but the not for profit thing is something of a misnomer for me.
I know you are technically correct to say its legally a not for profit, but in dealing with surplus or loss it effectively behaves in a very similar way a regular company with shareholders does.
Like you say, if a surplus is made by re-turn, the producer fees will reduce. The producer fee is an arbitrary cost, a fixed fee, a cash cost to the producer; when it changes it impacts directly the bottom line of the producer (and it's cash flow, but nothing much else).
Assuming ownership of re-turn is aligned with the share of containers sold, then In very broad terms surely 'adjusting the producer fee' amounts to being no more than an alternative way to distribute a surplus (or loss) from a business to its owners.
In fact it may be more efficient given that re-turn MUST disburse its surplus (as opposed to a regular company who don't have to distribute anything to its owners).
Yes, this all works in reverse too; that doesn't change my point that just because re-turn itself is not for profit, doesn't mean its owners consider it like a subsidiary in profit or loss terms.
Mine have gone up by 10% - Thorntons.
So let me get this straight magic_murph, waste collection companies are getting a subsidy because of a reduction in earnings? So the taxpayer funds this subsidy for the waste company collects less waste, and the taxpayer also has to do extra work to recycle! This is mad.
Is there a time limit on reclaiming the funds from the paper deposit vouchers?
In other words, if I decided to save up all my paper deposit vouchers in a box and cash them in once a year, can I do that?
(Still cannot believe they opted for issuing paper vouchers instead of a scannable app or card of some sort in 2024).
Come on man its already too complicated for most, an app would be a disaster, exclude people who don't have smartphones and the elderly.
I haven't heard of any, but I wouldn't trust the receipt ink to last perfectly that long!
If worried on LONG LASTING INK =cash them in
That's ageist.
Older people are well capable of using smart phones, and many would take huge offence is you suggested they couldn't. Smartphones have been around for a long time now.
Have you seen the latest Tesco ClubCard TV ad, by any chance? Granny using her phone for her clubcard savings.
Also, paper receipts are not exactly environmentally friendly, now are they?
What happens when the machine runs out of paper?
Ridiculous that they chose paper for this.
In my town a man arrived at one of the deposit return kiosks with two big black bin liners full of plastic bottles. He was obviously collecting them for some time in anticipation. However, none of his bottles had the return logo, so he just left the two bin bags alongside the kiosk.
iirc there was talk of having an option at machines to donate to charity. Anyone see this in action?
in dundrum there was one such machine before all this feb 1st re-turn lark. Since then i've no idea what happened to it. There was a news paper article somewhere about it. i'll have to go look for it, but not sure if there's any point since its outdated by now
https://lovindublin.com/lifestyle/dundrum-now-has-a-reverse-vending-machine-that-raises-money-for-charity
and another one https://www.dublinlive.ie/whats-on/dublin-farm-raising-funds-childrens-22596002
The older generation are more than capable of using a smart phone. My father has a basic phone for his hearing aid app and whatsapp.
However when it comes to anything involving money its a different story. A lot dont want to know and arnt for turning.
I have relations that wont get a credit card / debit card. I order their car tax online and they give me the money.
articles like this are to blame for people like him, for giving a false clickbait impression. https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/green-light-for-vending-machines-that-give-cash-for-old-cans-and-bottles/a580938985.html
"Green light for vending machines that give cash for old cans and bottles"
Someone else in work now has the bright idea of printing those stickers a4 pages full of stickers for addresses on envelopes. I'll ask them how it went next week.
More costs. You wouldnt need a security guard at every green bin if we could get back to the tried and tested way of recycling.
Imagine if it would be possible to have the option of both?
I know, that technology hasn't been invented yet.
Also I'm pretty sure this scheme couldn't give 2 flying figs about people who would find it hard to use it.
There is no option for home deliveries or products that are rejected.
My 4th weekly shop since the scheme has been introduced. Two of the weekly shops included a second supermarket. Yet to be charged any deposit and have yet to see anyone using the machines. When all old stock is gone, and deposits start being charged properly, I foresee absolute uproar and chaos.
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