Deposit Return Scheme - Consultation on Potential Models for Ireland
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From: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
- Published on: 2 October 2020
- Open for submissions from: 2 October 2020
- Submissions closed: 13 November 2020
- Last updated on: 15 April 2025
Consultation is closed
Ireland’s Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy commits to introducing a Deposit and Return Scheme (DRS) in Ireland. This public consultation is the first step on that journey. Alongside this consultation, we are publishing a report which evaluates our current collection systems, in the context of new EU targets.
DRS is a system used in other EU Member States and further afield to incentivise consumers to return their beverage containers for recycling or reuse. The DRS being introduced in Ireland is focused on plastic bottles and aluminium cans because too few of these are being captured for recycling by our current system (which could put Ireland in breach of EU legislation) and too many are being discarded as litter.
The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) is looking for your views on how this DRS should operate in Ireland. The consultation document outlines possible options and poses some questions in this regard. However, you do not have to respond to all questions and you are free to raise other relevant points.
Submissions can be made to Wastecomments@DCCAE.gov.ie
The original closing date for submissions was 5pm Thursday 12 November 2020. This has now been extended to 5pm Friday 13 November 2020.
Because we are working remotely, we are not accepting hard copy submissions. However, if this causes a problem, please contact us on 00353 87 244 9479 and we will ensure your views are collected.
Update 8 October 2020
The report from Eunomia has been updated to a new version which contains more accurate information.