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Press release

'Many happy returns!' - Minister marks first birthday of the Deposit Return Scheme

  • DRS has made a strong start in its first year with 84% of the Irish public participating in the scheme
  • over 980 million containers have been returned
  • €90,000 collected for the Return for Children charity initiative
  • near-50% reduction in bottles and cans being littered

The Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O'Brien, today celebrated the one-year anniversary of the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).

Designed to significantly reduce single-use waste, DRS has been one of the most positive consumer behaviour initiatives to happen this country in decades and has already had a transformative impact. In its first six months 350 million containers were returned and by the end of its first year, over 980 million containers have been collected through the scheme, diverting millions of plastic bottles and aluminium cans from landfill and litter.

The scheme has also taken off at a grassroots level, with community and charity organisations using it for fundraising. €90,000 has been raised for the 'Return for Children' initiative and well over 2,000 schools, clubs and community organisations have registered with DRS for their own fundraising activities.

Minister O’Brien said:

"In its first 12 months, DRS has collected and recycled over 980 million bottles and cans and has dramatically reduced the number of those containers ending up as litter or being landfilled. I’d like to thank everyone who participated in the scheme in its first year. The efforts are making a real difference in reducing waste and promoting recycling and I look forward to an even stronger 2025.

"Essential to the success of DRS has been the Irish beverage industry and retailers, who through Re-turn, who have come together to build an entirely new recycling model. With over 3,000 return points nationwide, DRS ensures maximum coverage for urban and rural communities alike."

Minister of State for Circular Economy, Alan Dillon said:

"DRS has helped many local and community groups as an additional fundraising measure. By participating in DRS, schools, sports clubs and other groups are not only raising much needed funds by reducing litter and cleaning up their own communities but also collectively contributing to a greener, more sustainable Ireland."

Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn said:

"One year in, Ireland's Deposit Return Scheme has exceeded expectations. Over 980 million drinks containers have been recycled through the scheme. At current rates, we will recycle approximately 630 million more plastic bottles and cans over the next twelve months than we recycled prior to the introduction of the scheme. Beyond the environmental impact, over 2,000 clubs, schools, and organisations are now using deposit returns to fund vital causes. While there's more to do, the momentum is clear, and in 2025, we'll focus on growing participation and impact."

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

Scheme highlights

  • 84% public participation with DRS, with 90% recognition of the Re-turn logo/brand
  • over 980 million containers returned for recycling
  • over 3,000 return points across the country
  • near-50% reduction in the prevalence of plastic bottles and cans in litter
  • €90,000 raised for the Return for Children charity initiative

Performance to date

  • a key objective of the DRS is the achievement of Ireland’s EU separate collection target for plastic beverage bottles as mandated by the Single Use Plastics Directive – 90% by 2029, with an interim target of 77% by 2025
  • a national DRS for plastic bottles and aluminium cans was introduced in February 2024, to incentivise the separate collection and recycling of those products. A more complete picture of the scheme’s performance emerges over a full-year cycle—running from June 2024 to June 2025. While this data won’t be available until mid-2025, the results to date are very promising
  • uptake of the DRS has been very positive and 980 million containers have been returned

Impact of DRS to date

  • DRS is one of the most positive consumer behaviour initiatives to happen in this country for decades. It is doing two vital things – reducing litter and combating the scourge of single-use plastics on the environment, by ensuring that these containers get separately collected for recycling
  • participation in DRS has been very positive and, since the scheme was launched on 1 February 2024, 981 million bottles and cans have been returned, with average daily rates now regularly exceeding 3 million containers
  • DRS is also driving community engagement in environmental projects by providing opportunities for charities and community organisations, through consumers who wish to donate their deposit for charitable purposes
  • to date over €90,000 has been raised for the ‘Return for Children’ initiative and over 2,000 schools, clubs and community organisations have registered for their own fundraising activities
  • communities and event organisers who want to fundraise for the 'Return for Children' initiative or their own chosen charity or community group can get further guidance on how to do so by contacting Re-turn at communities@re-turn.ie
  • bottles and cans have always been a high-volume component of litter. IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) results provide an early indication that DRS is contributing to lower litter levels nationwide. In its latest survey results, published in January 2025, IBAL reported a near-50% fall in the prevalence of plastic bottles and cans in sites surveyed since DRS was introduced
  • similar results have been reported by CoastWatch, who have found a massive reduction in plastic bottles and aluminium cans washing up on the Irish shoreline since the introduction of the DRS
  • a pilot bin surrounds project is also underway which allows shoppers, commuters or tourists donate their empty container while on the go. The goal of this project is to reduce litter and prevent these containers being thrown into general waste
  • by using a separate collection stream (rather than placing them in the general waste or recycling bins which can contaminate the containers), DRS is increasing the quantity and quality of the recycled material and ensures those materials remain in use for as long as possible, reducing the need for virgin materials. In 2025, producers must ensure their plastic drinks bottles contain an average of 25% recycled content, increasing to 30% by 2030

Re-turn – the DRS operator

  • the DRS is an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, whereby producers are given responsibility for the collection and disposal of their products. As with the other EPRs, it is the responsibility of producers to establish the DRS and to nominate an operator of the scheme, for approval by the Minister
  • in July 2022, the Minister approved an application from Deposit Return Scheme Ireland (trading as Re-turn), on behalf of the Irish beverage industry, as the DRS operator. No other applications were received by the Minister
  • Re-turn relies on three sources of income, with producer fees and the sale of materials providing the structured backbone of the scheme’s long-term financial model. The third source, unredeemed deposits, introduces a variable element into the revenue stream, as it is influenced by consumer behaviour and redemption rates
  • Re-turn operates on a not-for-profit basis, which means that any profits made by the company must be reinvested exclusively for the development of the DRS scheme
  • Re-turn is responsible for all operational and funding matters relating to the DRS. While the Minister has no function in the day-to-day business operations of the company, there are a range of regulatory and administrative controls in place to monitor the scheme and the department receives regular updates on its performance

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