There's some truth in that - no doubt. However - there's significant rumbling about this scheme in the "real world" also - we've seen it on media outlets, heard it on radio slots and on TV. I've made my own feelings known on this whole debacle plenty of times already on this thread but we should all want and demand greater Reduce,Reuse, Recyle of all items that are ultimately harmful to our environment.
This scheme doesn't really address any one of these R's in any great way in any better way than that went before it. You still have the issues of people not engaging, I have collected items for return and used the machines a few times in the past few months with increasingly better "return" rates but I don't believe the scheme is in any way going to do anything for recycling rates.
I've said it on here before but I share a workplace with people in their late teens/early twenties. The building itself is big, there are small bins (general) all over the place. These people would buy bottles etc and just fire them in the general bins afterwards.
Theres no onus on the premises to provide segregated bins, there's no seperate or method to return items in the building as it is exempt, and the majority of people I engage with just aren't taking items elsewhere to get their return. These items will end up in general rubbish.
Coupled with the people who shop online, for one reason or another, and people who are on the road/moving around a lot you simply aren't going to get enough engagement with this scheme for it to reach it's goals - you've also pi$$ed off a lot of people who will just continue to use their recycle bins or worse.
The above examples aren't edge cases.
Thankfully this collections scheme will show us collection rates once they start polishing off the PR and Spin from the monthly reports that should expose the lack of engagement of the general population with the scheme which might at the very least look at some other things that are required. I doubt it though.
The State and Local Authorities have almost completely wiped their hands of the issues or rubbish, recycling, collection etc and its not today or yesterday that happened.
I used it for the first time tonight at SuperValu. Very impressed to be honest. They even offered to give me cash for the voucher. One of the machines was full.
Surely in the bigger stores, the staff savings they’ve made with self service tills would easily cover a manual returns person.
went to Lidl last night with about 20 bottles - bliss - it worked like a dream , previous experience has been mixed … this needs to work consistently for folks to have confidence in the system
What's the fine for throwing a can/bottle into a ditch? How much was recouped in 2023? 2022 etc??
That's an unusually fair comment for this thread.
Never thought of that.
Kids can be unpredictable.
https://m.independent.ie/life/family/family-features/watch-moment-tipperary-boy-gets-stuck-in-a-toy-machine-after-climbing-in-to-get-a-teddy/35550916.html
From the other video posted they're not easily opened
I'd reckon unless they have a re-turn bar code and logo they should get rejected. Honestly though I'm sure there are safety features for a case like that. I would hope!
In fairness that looks a bit dangerous. A kid could climb in.
I looked at a few videos of machines from different countries. NSW had machines 5 years ago, but Victoria started only a few months back. Naturally to "mixed reviews" according to the media. They become just another everyday fixture after the initial furore.
Spain needs to get something working because they litter the country with 30 million containers a day according to what I read. This machine from Sweden takes the work out of feeding in the containers. 109 Kr is about €9.27.
Tried to turn in a few today and it said bottles weren't empty which has happened to me before.
There was a staff member emptying the other machine and he said to turn them in bottom first, all the other times it's worked for me I've been turning them in cap first but it worked straight away bottom first.
When the shutters are down, they are broken, broken.
Beyond the scope of the poor lad/lass who works in the supermarket who received absolutely no training on how to fix them.
Nor should they be expected to fix them, too dangerous.
I’ve not used them yet.
And various posters have made positive comments of their RVM experiences.
100 > 1
Two machines had shutters down on them today, is that new for broken machines?
I'm really pi$$ed off with these machines as everytime I visit, issues with machines or cans or bottles with logo not accepted
Who is meant to be commenting?
I'd say come one come all.
It's a discussion forum after all.
As long as we accept that we are a self selecting group of commentators.
Don't spoil me evening now, am trying to remain positive!
Name a few more.
These are comments made from one auld one who has been through Greencore, Iodine Tablets, Telecom Eireann, E voting machines,Garda Reserve Force, Irish Water to name just a few.
And this thread has probably fewer than 100 reporting their experiences. But one of them feels justified in labelling a politician as a liar, when the numbers don't suit their outlook.
Shop workers running Re-Turn are posting here. Customers using Re-Turn are posting here. Several articles in the media surveying the public recently posted here. Majority of experiences gathered point to a money grabbing time robbing shambles that increases carbon emissions compared to and running parallel to recycle wheelie bins. Who is meant to be commenting?
You simple are not.
Your experience is just that, yours.
I am not everyone, but I am getting included in everyone. See the post above yours. It does not apply to me.
Good for you.
But you are aware not everyone is you, right?
I mean even the people running the scam are saying it hasn't been good enough. Doom and gloom?
And we are not hearing from thousands of normal people who don't inhabit Boards.
Are you suggesting you are not normal?
So many people were recycling before this stupid scheme. I'd hazard another guess that recycling rates aren't as good since the introduction of this scheme, as vessels that previously went into a green bin at somebody's house, are now going in the watse bin at a shop, when the machines won't accept them.
Anecdotally, my nearest RVM is at a local convenience store. The public bin ourltside it was never full (the shop is beside my kids creche so I'm there most days) until the RVM was installed and now the general waste bin is wedged full of bottles and other vessels that the machine won't accept.
And the general area has far more rubbish blowing around the street, because the bin is overflowing.
Fantastic result for the environment there.
Mine is a very small sample of four visits with around a total of twelve x 25 cent plastic bottles. 100% success. I can't trust the doom and gloom being posted here. And we are not hearing from thousands of normal people who don't inhabit Boards.
Water charges… oh wait.
My guess is that more money will be retained by this scheme annually than will be paid out in refunds to consumers.
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