So where's your proof this is due to the DRS?
You cant have it both ways. Telling everyone on here to provide proof then post this.
There has to be some leeway given for obvious logical conclusions on your side also.
Fair enough. So we won't have any more claims that drinks prices went up because of DRS. Or bin prices. Unless someone can prove it.
Well taking from your earlier post.
What would "changes in nationwide recycling processes have all contributed to this increase" mean? A reasonable interpretation would be that they had to increase prices because people are no longer putting the most valuable items in their recycling bins.
No. The point is I will concede its logical that plastic bottles washing up on shores has reduced due to the DRS if you concede its logical prices of popular soft drinks (not soda water) have increased to pay for the running of Re-Turn. Both without pointless gurning for cast iron proof (which you have been doing more than anyone) that cant be attained.
Just a few points on the coastal waste.
The claim of a reduction was in this article in the IT written by Kevin O'Sullivan former editor of the paper.
It's based on preliminary results of the 2024 Coastal Survey which is ongoing. The full report will be published later in the year.
Coastwatch has a lot of experience in the area and has been carrying out the surveys since 1987.
https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/2024/10/14/deposit-return-scheme-leads-to-massive-reduction-in-plastic-bottles-and-drinks-containers-found-on-shores-by-coastwatch/
They state a 'massive reduction' but don't back it up with a single figure to compare the drop from what the figures were compared to the same months last year before the scheme was introduced. I'd need to see figures over 10 years to see a proper comparison, a good summer here, bad summer there will impact on what people dump in the beach much more than the DRS alone.
The full report will be published in due course and should be a interesting read.
Eventually you will get your 10 year figures.
Coastwatch are at this for 37 years so nobody has better long term experience.
Ah sure, let's play devils advocate here and ask a hypothetical! As I understand it, it covers all of the Island of Ireland.
If these figures are near enough substantiated, how would one account for the Six Counties or Northern Ireland showing a huge decrease?
I am not sure who is worse in making such a conclusion. The person who wrote the piece, coast watch or indeed the poster who posted the link.
A n absolute nonsense piece of journalism.
That said. I don't doubt that there may be less plastic bottle and aluminium can litter, however at what cost and where does ot end up anyway.
I reckon Coastwatch knows where the border is after 37 years.
Kevin O'Sullivan is a scholar and a gentleman and Karin Dubsky has done more to promote care of our coastal environment than most.
As for my small contribution, you won't find any errors in what I posted above.
To be fair that group have been calling for a DRS for years now and as I said, I have no doubt that the DRS is leading to less items left lying around the place - we all know the street urchins are keeping the place clean of bottles and cans etc but at what costs.
Any group calling for something for years are gonna want to support whatever they were calling for once its in.
Great. If the numbers are good when the full report is published they shouldn't need as much NGO funding. Divert that to our bin collections to stop the price hikes since we're all doing our bit for a better tomorrow with the DRS. Im sure there are plenty more similar NGOs we could trim the fat off now since the environment is being saved by Re-Turn.
The reporting function is facilitated by volunteers all over the country.
It will continue to collect data no matter whether numbers are good or not.
Quite a few environmental groups supported the introduction of DRS.
Of course it was actually introduced by legislation supported by parties in Dail Eireann on both sides of the house.
Of course it was - you wouldn't expect leglislation to be enacted in any other way surely?
The devil is in the detail however.
DRS is leading to less bottles and cans lying about the place - I have no issues what that general logic.
Question is - where are these bottles and cans ending up? What is happening to support the people who cannot use DRS easily for whatever reason (some examples on this thread), why has the majority of the cost/risk/work been pushed back on the consumer and NOT the organisations that make billions in profit every year? Why isn't there some significant disencentives pushed on the producers of this waste? What are DRS doing about non-compliances? Are there any plans to ensure the bulk users of DRS have an option for bulk returns? What happens with the waste collectors - are people expected to continue to pay in numerous ways for the same thing? There are plenty more questions, and very few answers 6 months later.
Incineration.
I was reading earlier today that incinerating plastic is as bad for the environment as burning coal:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3wxgje5pwo
Plastic bottles should have been phased out. I guess the drinks companies didn't want that to happen, so we have DRS. It is simply prolonging the use of the these plastics. It reminds me of tactics the tobacco industry used.
Anyone promoting this awful scheme should be ashamed.
That's the bag we got from a walk around Howth a couple of weeks ago. Still plenty of idiots treating nature as thier Ashtray, but unlike before those who are cleaning after them will get something out of it.
Ashamed? I don't think so 🙂
Anyone else have an issue with the Aldi Comeragh Springs Sparkling 500ml bottles?
- RVM says 'container not recognised' and re-turn barcode checker says not valid
the interests of our producers of our goods have become extremely well protected and prioritised, largely due to long term lobbying of our political processes, and its working, its very unlikely policies will be implemented to alter this dynamic, as this potentially could negatively impact their profits and share holder value, so, its always gonna be us the end users that will ultimately pay the price….
All the questions you mention need to be addressed.
None of them are the responsibility of The Irish Times, Coastwatch or any other NGO.
If Aldi are charging the deposit on bottles that can't be put through the DRS machine you need to take it up with them directly.
It would be useful to copy your complaint to Re-turn also
You certainly shouldn't be ashamed.
You are cleaning up the environment and collecting a small reward.
A win win situation.
These are the exact type of questions the Irish times need to be asking and attempting to get answers to, rather than publishing some puff pieces for an NGO who dont seem at all concerned about the bigger picture, which may be fair enough as their aim is essentially to watch the coast or something along those lines.
There are numerous media outlets who may or may not be receiving advertising revenue from ReTurn who may be concerned about asking the more difficult questions.
As stated many times on this thread there's literally f all point in any of this if the amounts of the materials continue to increase overall and/or if these items aren't actually being recycled in any case.
Hospitality can get an exemption?
It wasn't being bought to bring home.
Just charge it but don't have to take it back and give the refund IIRC.
It should still have had the logo unless theres an exemption as referenced above.
Hospitality exception is when they don't charge, and take it off you. Only been one place doing that; but I wouldn't eat in places and get cans/bottles *that* often
As I understand it my local can charge say €6 for a can of cider and no mention of deposit on the receipt or elsewhere.
They still pay the deposit to the wholesaler.
You can either bring the empty can home or leave it on the table.
No.
If they don't charge the deposit you are not meant to take it home. Even if you did, it would have a normal barcode and you'd get the refund you didn't pay for
They have to absorb or add on the deposit as they pay it at source.
So while you are not paying the deposit directly, it's been added into the overall price.
No, that's not the exemption in question
There are two options only. They charge and it's yours to take away; they don't charge and it isn't
