Conspiracy theory time... I downloaded Re-Turn's Articles of Association from the CRO a few months back partly out of nosiness and partly out trying to see if there was an angle for someone to make a lot of money.
While it's true they say they can't pay out dividends and as expected they can pay their staff and board whatever they like, it also says if the company is wound up its assets will be distributed among the industry members. Seemed like housekeeping, just in case, the assets have to go somewhere right if worst comes to worst?
But the constant news about machines being broken, people unable to get deposits back, behaviour in recent weeks where they refuse to give numbers on the amount of deposits taken, maybe just maybe certain members stand to make serious money if the scheme flops...
it also says if the company is wound up its assets will be distributed among the industry members
Is that for real??? With millions outstanding in refunds - want to say typical Ireland, well typical Ireland
I assume it's a standard clause but the potential is there!
Edit: Just double checked and it doesn't even specify if the company is wound up, that was my interpretation. Just says that any assets can be distributed among members.
This is part of the companies constitution where they basically give themselves the right to do anything they think they might ever need to do in future, so they tend to cover all sorts of mad situations, like loaning people money to buy shares in Re-Turn's holding company, or vest Re-Turn's property in anyone they like without any specific trust being set up.
You could have done this noble act prior to the DRS coming in as well with the added bonus that your recycle bin would have accepted any and all returns, despite their condition…….or are you suggesting saving the environment only makes sense if you make money from it?
Surely there has to be some transparency soon on total unclaimed deposits.
I think a fair lag time would be max 2 months between purchase and container returned to RVM / dumped / binned. Lets see February's stats this month, March next month and so on.
If they don't release stats in July it would make you think where unclaimed money goes, as in a money trail not just it goes here…..
Saw some empty containers left on top of the RVM in Lidl.
Foreign drink containers, i.e. bought abroad
Doussy fabric conditioner
I wonder are some of the complaints about the machines due to user error?
Well lads, it's the AGM again. Congratulations everyone, it's been a great year, but when you own the golf course, every year is, ha, ha.
I'll keep it brief as usual. We have one item on the agenda, and that's a proposal for all executive officers and board members to get a 9.8% pay rise, same as last year. As Chairman, I am putting that motion to the meeting. Anyone second the motion?
My you are a keen lot. Can I have a show of hands in favour.
Ha, ha, a unanimous mexican wave. That would be Connor's doing, if I don't miss my guess.
Motion passed. Now any more business not on the agenda?
Well we knew the bulk buy of Gulfstreams was likely to rattle feathers. Connor, get someone to run up a reply; no more important issue facing us than the environment, important conferences, airport overcrowding, make the recycling rate up one to 91%, proof in the pudding, time and money well spent, etc, etc.
Meeting closed, see you all next year.
Ireland in a nutshell.
As I said it was an expirement which took me away from the immediate environs of my residence. I do keep the area nearby free from litter. The more a place becomes littered, the more litter it attracts, just like the phenomenon of antil social behaviour.
The DRS people expect to see some of this activity, reasonable enough as it happens a lot in other countries. I regard it as a win win, some litter gets picked up, and someone get the deposit. The DRS video has a fictional person called Kate and this is what they say:
"So if Kate decides not to return her empty container and throws it away, it's more likely that someone else will pick it up and return to the retailer to claim the deposit."
No, but there is precedent for a NFP to squander what they are receiving in as "business expenses". I predict the Christmas party for ReTurn to be held somewhere very swanky. A trip to Vegas to be the star prize at the raffle etc.
Grand, using the poor as unpaid street cleaners - that's the new plan is it?
We pick up all sorts of rubbish from local beauty spot each summer and deposit in our own bins we pay for. There maybe a couple of Return items in it this summer but the bulk will be just rubbish.
That's a great business model - win, win no matter how bad the service or outcome is. Where's the incentive to improve, deliver?
I've said it before and it'll be said again - that egghead of a minister should hauled over the coals before being fired.
Remember Irish Water? Now, Irish Water is a state entity not a not-for profit, but I predict similar antics.
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/irish-water-blasted-spending-6000-3037998
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/irish-water-workers-can-sweat-it-out-in-office-gym/29906615.html
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20293947.html
That last one:
The Irish Examiner can confirm the number of managers getting the annual €10,500 car allowance has risen by 50% since January.
ReTurns CEO may have his and his managers salaries capped as it is a NFP, but if they can conclude that something is a work expense, and there is money in the pot, they can spend it.
Hmm, maybe an exploratory mission to see how they do DRS schemes in other countries? I hear Aruba has a very successful DRS.
Personally not having any issues with in-scope cans/bottles being rejected, but noticed yesterday the machine was being way more pickier about them. Every 3rd item needed 2 or 3 attempts before it would accept them.
Not sure if this is an adjustment in sensitivity or degradation in the machine.
Go easy on the crystal ball, you'll wear it out.
"A Not for Profit can not pay dividends".
Well there is more than one way to skin a cat.
The Conservative Partnership Institute, a nonprofit whose funding skyrocketed after it became a nerve center for President Donald J. Trump’s allies in Washington, has paid at least $3.2 million since the start of 2021 to corporations led by its own leaders or their relatives, records show.In its most recent tax filings, the nonprofit’s three highest-paid contractors were all connected to insiders.One was led by the institute’s president, Edward Corrigan, and another by its chief operating officer. At a third contractor, the board members included the group’s senior legal fellow Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer who supported Mr. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/06/us/politics/trump-conservative-partnership-institute-funds.html
The Conservative Partnership Institute, a nonprofit whose funding skyrocketed after it became a nerve center for President Donald J. Trump’s allies in Washington, has paid at least $3.2 million since the start of 2021 to corporations led by its own leaders or their relatives, records show.
In its most recent tax filings, the nonprofit’s three highest-paid contractors were all connected to insiders.
One was led by the institute’s president, Edward Corrigan, and another by its chief operating officer. At a third contractor, the board members included the group’s senior legal fellow Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer who supported Mr. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/06/us/politics/trump-conservative-partnership-institute-funds.html
I dont need to look into the future, I just need to look at the past.
More predictions.
All based on another company's record
Do you claim for out of pocket expenses ?
Given all the RVM problems I wonder are the technicians looking after them learning on the job.
I haven't seen any figure for the actual number of technicians either.
Seems they have a very busy work schedule.
What has that got to do with the price of fish?
Ah well if you are right at least they will last until Christmas 🎄
Some were predicting an even earlier demise.
The machines are maintained by their vendors, there's more than one supplier of them.
You questioned Re-turn employees claiming business expenses.
Elperello doth protest too much.
It seems strange that someone would be so defensive of reasonable criticisms levelled at a state facilitated Not for Profit organisation.
Thanks, I didn't really think there was just one company looking after them all.
I presume that the technicians servicing,repairing and adjusting the RVMs have experience in a related field.
So far I have never seen anyone apart from shop staff opening an RVM.
The logistics must be difficult enough especially for machines outside main population centres but then that applies to all similar installations.
I didn't question it, I said it will happen. I also said so long as their manager can categorise it as a business expense, then you would be surprised what can get expensed. Saying "but its a Not for Profit, and it can't pay out dividends" is a cop out and well you know it. Someone else, not me, asked what happens to the non-claimed deposits. It was said, it goes back into the ReTurn pot but as it is a Not for Profit, no-one can benefit from it. I beg to differ.
Based on the numbers so far it's:
More likely that more people behave like Kate and it's less likely for people to pick up after them due to the convoluted nature of the scheme, for both individuals.
This to me is obvious. Not sure why it's not obvious to more to be honest.
A very small percentage probably are, but the vast majority aren't.
Well that was stunning. Was just in Aldi and presented two vouchers because I keep forgetting i have them, and they hand one back and say they can't accept it because it was from a different Aldi story. Now I have to try and remember it the next time I am in the other store.
I have been dutifully recycling for more than two decades, but now I think I will stop. The non return recycling will be going in the landfill bag in the vain hope it can help with keeping the recycling stats low. I wash up the plastic, letting it dry, buy special large transparent bags and then I pay for the priveledge of disposing of it, with it likely then being sold as fuel for a cement kiln. This is going to make my life easier.
I'll possibly be voting against my own best interests but there is no way I am going to vote for any of the shower who have been making the decisions this last decade or so.
