Deposit return scheme (recycling) - Part 2

thebiglad · 06-02-2026 11:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124211092#Comment_124211092

I raised this point before the scheme started, saw exactly this in Germany - their street cleaners are out at dawn to clear up all the rubbish pulled out of bins overnight, same as our councils now have to do here.

This was easily forseeable, even if it was not occuring in established DRS countries there is essentially free money in the bins, of course they're gonna be rifled through.

I agree, the DRS scheme should be making a contribution to the councils for the additional clean up works that is now put on them.

Still cannot argue though, despite the mess at bins there are a lot less cans and plastic bottle waste on the streets, just go to UK and you will soon start to notice the difference, seeing a lot more glass bottle waste around now and surely that is worse than plastic.

Boggles · 06-02-2026 11:14AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124211153#Comment_124211153

Still cannot argue though, despite the mess at bins there are a lot less cans and plastic bottle waste on the streets

But the point is it's being replaced by other rubbish, bottles and cans only up make up 1% to 3% of overall litter.

If the bins are being damaged, they are out of service until they are either replaced or fixed, which given our Councils will be a long wait or not at all.

Why don't we just disband the scam and pay marginalised people to collect rubbish.

There is no need for a bloated mess costings millions then.

jj880 · 06-02-2026 11:44AM

Does this mean the bin surrounds didn’t work after all? Shocker!

So now, on top of an extra fleet of lorries servicing the RVMs, councils get to rack up additional mileage cleaning up the mess created by bin scavenging.

The ever‑expanding Re‑Turn carbon footprint marches on in the name of a “better tomorrow.”

George White · 06-02-2026 11:54AM

ItIt is a Better Tomorrow alright (do we think the ad guys know its the name of a series of violent Hong King crime movies?)

dxhound2005 · 06-02-2026 01:11PM

Rich people do strange things. I was at a bottle bank a few days ago and noticed that one of the bins for cans had loads of PET bottles with the logo at the top of the heap. There are shops in the area where they could have got a few Euro for them. Bottle bins and can bins at these banks also get various sorts of rubbish put in them.

Mr.CoolGuy · 10-02-2026 09:59PM

This is mank but going to be incredibly common because we've shown time and time again that as a country we will throw rubbish anywhere and everywhere.

That said I have absolutely no sympathy for Supervalu because they are the ones who called for this awful system

Boggles · 11-02-2026 12:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124224648#Comment_124224648

From my experience these machines so shít I might aswell be trying to get back a deposit on a sock or closepeg.

ELM327 · 11-02-2026 01:28PM

The machines are crap. Where's the bulk input ones?

dxhound2005 · 11-02-2026 02:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226228#Comment_124226228

The machines are great. There are posts on the thread about the first bulk machine in Newcastle Co Dublin, and other ones after that.

dulpit · 11-02-2026 02:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226228#Comment_124226228

2 posts above, Carrigaline in Co. Cork.

ELM327 · 11-02-2026 04:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226517#Comment_124226517

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124226530#Comment_124226530

Not much good to me in enniscorthy though is it?

Archeron · 23-02-2026 10:22AM

Just went to local machine to bring back a family members cans and bottles and every single item had to be put in two or three times. Wrong material, remove container, barcode not recognised, remove container. The lad in the shop said their was a software update done and since then it's been a nightmare for them.

A more cynical man might think the return rates are now too high and Return aren't getting to keep enough of our sweet sweet money, so messing the machines up would answer that.

elperello · 23-02-2026 11:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258496#Comment_124258496

Best thing you could do is try another machine and test your theory.

It could be a conspiracy but more likely it's just a dodgy machine.

Meanwhile at my local Dunnes last week I put my containers in, all went through first time of trying and €3 voucher printed, no problem.

George White · 23-02-2026 11:23AM

The machine at Cornelscourt outside the tills won't take Lidl sparkling water bottles for the same reason.

dulpit · 23-02-2026 11:27AM

I use return machines in Tesco and on rare occasions Dunnes. I don't know if I'm extremely lucky or if people are prone to exaggeration here, but apart from sometimes encountering machines that are full I've not had any issues with returning stuff.

Oh actually there is one - my small fella sometimes gets fruit shoots from McDonalds and those bottles are small and top heavy so when you pop them into the machine they tip over and the scanner can't see the barcode. So that is a minor annoyance alright I guess. But otherwise, I bring cans/bottles, I put into machine, I get my receipt. Happy times.

odyssey06 · 23-02-2026 11:29AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258644#Comment_124258644

Do LIDL machines accept them?

There's a thread in Consumer Issues that LIDL in ROI are stocking NI own brand plastic bottles, charging deposit and even their own machines won't refund them. No re-turn icon.

elperello · 23-02-2026 11:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258644#Comment_124258644

You could check to see if the barcode is registered here.

Consumer - Re-Turn https://share.google/mKYuKTTE1RXj3kWfY

L1011 · 23-02-2026 03:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258496#Comment_124258496

Return do not own, operate, supply or maintain the machines, so the more cynical man would be an idiot. Just as well its not you then.

Boggles · 23-02-2026 03:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258654#Comment_124258654

I bring cans/bottles, I put into machine, I get my receipt. Happy times.

Happy Times?

FFS.

jj880 · 23-02-2026 04:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259483#Comment_124259483

Kids: Tell us another one about the good old days Grandad.

Grandad: Well when I was your age we used to hoard plastic containers in our homes, taking care not to dent them. Then we would load up our car and drive round looking for an RVM that wasnt a hape of shyite so we could queue up in a shop to get our own money back that we already paid when purchasing the containers. It didnt reduce plastic usage or litter at all but no-one seemed to care. Those were the days. Happy times!

Boggles · 23-02-2026 04:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259511#Comment_124259511

Granddad please tell that story again how you got stuck behind the lad with 4 refuse sacks and by the time it was your turn the machine shát itself and you had to cart your litter back home yet again.

Happy Times!!!

PixelCrafter · 23-02-2026 10:09PM

The current story from the Grandad era is more like stories of how they used to fling the bottles into the nearest hedge, considering we still find branded 1970s bottles and crisp bags showing up.

elperello · 23-02-2026 10:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124260506#Comment_124260506

It was the youngsters then granddad's now dumping mineral bottles and crisp packets.

Actually the granddad's then often returned the stout bottles etc. which had a deposit paid on them.

Not so good with glass jars and bottles with no deposit though.

In old abandoned cottages you'll often find a heap of them dumped out the back.

greasepalm · 24-02-2026 01:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258496#Comment_124258496

Same thing happened at my local SuperValu and reported to manager .

Next time i used the machine and not 1 rejection and was told they came out and ran a software update which sorted it.

I have multiple crates of cans and bottles i need to return but unable to for the moment.

JayBee66 · 24-02-2026 04:26PM

I collect more Re-turn containers than ever now. Getting on for €15 worth a week. Great for the supermarket. However, the route from Kilkenny City to my rural home is a toilet.

Obviously, RURAL people go into the city on Friday and Saturday night and then, on their way home, sh*t on the country my grandparents fought for.

Bottles, cans, fast food wrappers, crisp and sweet wrappers, cigarette packets, empty vapes and glass spirit bottles. Discarded used nappies. Plus black plastic silage wrappers, fertiliser sacks and tubs for calf feed. All delightfully frosted by leaking slurry injectors.

The City itself is quite tidy. It's the country people, whose family and relatives own the countryside who seem to be the worst offenders. Like cattle they seem to enjoy wallowing in their own filth.

How about a €1000 fine for littering. €500 of that to anyone who provides video evidence for the conviction of the perpetrator.

I could easily live off the ignorance of others.

elperello · 24-02-2026 06:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124262299#Comment_124262299

Fair play to you for doing your bit to clean the place up.

The fine for littering can already be €4000 for a District Court conviction.

Littering and dumping https://share.google/QD07PTqTEuJVNe6ML

More litter wardens and improved enforcement would help.

bassy · 26-02-2026 11:03PM

guys ive been buying drs return cans up north and the have always been accepted in the drs machines here,but 3 weeks ago i took a load to newcastle dublin and the were rejected,so i tryed them in 2 different places and rejected.

has the new software update counter acted to cans being bought up north with the return logo on them?.