Deposit return scheme (recycling)

Went to a restaurant yesterday and we got charged the deposit return for the cans that they served us as drink. None of the cans had the logo so even if we took the cans with us, we will not have get the deposit back. Bit of a rip off, the restaurant should not charged the deposit if the cans cannot been returned

But look at what you're suggesting - intended as genuine and helpful I know - but this is just ridiculous from start to finish..

• Bring back your cans and bottles and fiddle with the machines until they take them (if they do)
• Go squinting at barcodes and checking websites to do the work of logging new SKUs for them
• Stand around at Customer Service desks arguing about 15c or a few Euro at most which the store won't care about (not their scheme and they've already been paid) and the poor guy/girl listening to it certainly won't care

All so we can faff about with an idiotic time-wasting and inconvenient scheme/stealth tax because the EU have decided we must. Meanwhile developing countries and bigger player globally do what they want.

It's a scam.

no offense but in my opinion it was'nt helpful. i mean it was decent and genuine don't get me wrong, but it does'nt really help his situation and feels like more of an opinion or an afterthought rather than advice. it's good that you mentioned checking the barcode as a suggestion which can be somewhat helpful next time. if it happened me i would pay everything but the 15cent deposit. if i did'nt have the exact amount -15c, then i'd argue the 15 cent or atleast question it, or bring the can home and the receipt and report it to return (i doubt this last part would actually help though, seems more like a placebo blanket as return still has yet of today 3 weeks now not gotton back to me lol).

it's also possible the can's he speaks of, have no barcode. Some restaurants use multi-pack cans.

There was also another lad here a few days ago posted about being cheated out of a deposit on non-returnable cans or bottles from a multipack, but because he didnt have a receipt, or the origenal packacging or something, he could'nt do anything about it iirc.

Over the weekend I looked at the online shopping sites of the leading Irish stores - with a view to estimating the % of items being sold now with the deposit.

I had previously stated that the percentage of items being sold now with deposit is above 80%, and the research affirms that.

As you read the below, no doubt you might wonder how I still think that when say Aldi is under 50% - but bear in mind I am looking at items available to order online, not volume going through the till.

So take Coca Cola, which is the leading soft drink. 100% of Core original and Coke Zero in Dunnes, Tesco and Supervalue were being charged deposit (cans, bottles, multipacks, larger bottles). Same goes for Fanta, Sprite and 7up, with Pepsi 100% in Dunnes and Tesco. On the other hand, items where old stock persists were what you would expect were slower moving items - Lucozade Zero pink, some of Aldis own brand drinks, etc.

Its also worth bearing in mind that the 4 shops I feature account for 79% of grocery shopping in Ireland according to Kantar (Feb 2024).

Here are my findings. Apologies for the image format, easier to paste as that than a table.

i've been to lidl several times in the past few weeks and can confirm the only barcodes brandishing return logo's i ever see, are monster energy drinks, some of the "usual suspects" you've mentioned (coke, fanta etc) and if i'm not mistaking, sometimes their bottled water. Everything else there appears to have no return logo.

Also there's a flaw in depending on online inventory, as some stores may not even have what they show online, or may have it different. including items with/without a deposit vice versa. Some stores may list something online as having to pay a deposit, but when you actually get there its possible you may find an item that does'nt have a deposit (eg old stock). The online thing i think is just to give an example of what "could be" and can't be a gaurentee. Its a point of refference for online shoppers to and an idea of what to expect.

All the large flavored ballygowens i've come across in aldi still have no return logo (€1.55 or 1.50 iirc) and no deposit.

ALdi's own brand items i can't seem to find any return logo's on at all, but its possible i did'nt look hard enough.

Tesco did the reverse of this, they advertised non-logo sparkling water stock a few weeks back for 30 cent (the dump price) some places had it, sadly other places and all my nearest tescos only had the 95 cent price including the deposit.

A Handful of people were essentially getting sparkling water for 5 cent because of it! (using 25cent deposit return barcodes on the 30 cent bottles = 5 cent after returning the bottle to an rvm)

"All so we can faff about with an idiotic time-wasting and inconvenient scheme/stealth tax because the EU Ossian Smyth and the Greens have decided we must."

Have you enquired with the Revenue Commissioners as to the appropriate tax treatment for Re-turn vouchers?

Yes, as they are "deposits" they are entirely untaxable. I Was told they would have to be a capital gain from source that pays people money, gives a financial gain, or something one "earns" money from. There's nothing to tax here as deposits are only a person's money back and does'nt create any new wealth in of itself. Upon further questioning i was however told if i were to bring cans over a certain amount to a scrapyard and got a chunk of money all in one go from a scrap merchant, that would be taxable and needs to be declared.

tl;dr deposits being returned are not considered as a form "income".

also adding to the list: scientists, experimenters/testers, high volume returners, and adventurer's (people who go explore new locations on foot just to use the machines and discover locations, although i can see this being enthusiastic to some degree)

Also this be my 1000 post! :D

So took my son to Aldi on Saturday for a trial run. 4 plastic bottles accepted 1 rejected at Aldi.

Mildly annoyed with that but the deal breaker was having to go into the shop to get money or discount. Shop was very busy. First question he asked was why cant the money be added to my revolut? I answered "maybe they'll add that later". Some chance of that happening.

Nearly half way through the "teething" / "trial" period and it looks like most people just arent bothered and the head lads at Re-Turn dont seem to give a sh!te either. More interested in spoofing with stats in the media trying to put lipstick on a pig. It's blatantly obvious the majority will be even more apathetic to this under full usage. Maybe that will be hailed as a "success" by some.

I'd love to be an avoider but short of installing a beer tap and getting in kegs of Guinness, I can't do that. I do plan to get a sodastream for making soft drinks. I just need to find somewhere nearby to recharge the gas bottles. Otherwise I have given up entirely on the system.

The russian roulette element where by the machine might be working, or half the cans may not be read, is too much hassle for a return of 1 or 2 euros.

The downside of course is a slab of Guinness has now gone up by 3.60 for me. Come the next local election, representatives from any party are going to get an absolute earful from me. I am really hoping a Green candidate knocks on my door.

The technology does exist. It would not be hard to implement.

Some people on this thread are incredulous at some things I and others have suggested that the scheme could do.

Aww, bless.

That good to know i honeslty didnt know that.

Have you any examples of any service that can rtn money to you revoult account.

Was that today? From filling up / more use over the weekend I wonder? Some of them seem flaky.

Well all you need to send someone money on revolut is their phone number.

I have gotten refunds to my revolut from Dominos, Tesco and Just Eat. Others too I am sure.

Having worked at BOI, it's no suprise they dont have some features that are the norm elsewhere. Some of their systems still run on steam.