Latest news with #CiaranFoley
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
1.6 billion bottles and cans returned through Deposit Return Scheme
The Irish public has returned over 1.6 billion bottles and cans through the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) since its launch in February 2024. New figures from Re-turn, the administrator of the scheme, show 798 million more containers are now being recycled each year compared to before the scheme began. Recycling rates have risen from just 49% to an estimated 91%. 76% of these containers are captured directly through the DRS and a further 15% collected via mixed dry recycling. "The Board is very encouraged by the strong performance and early impact of the scheme since its launch in February of last year," said Tony Keohane, Chair of the Board of Re-turn. "Re-turn has delivered a Deposit Return Scheme that is already achieving measurable environmental results and social impact, including the return of over 1.6 billion bottles and cans and a significant increase in Ireland's national recycling rate for drinks containers. "This has been driven by extraordinary collaboration across government, retailers, producers and the wider supply chain, and most importantly by the enthusiastic participation of the Irish public," he added. Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn, said these latest recycling figures are far beyond what we had projected to achieve. "They speak to the commitment of the Irish people to sustainability and their desire to support the vision of a greener, cleaner Ireland," he said. "Additionally, the social impact of the scheme and the engagement with it from community groups across the country has exceeded any and all expectations. "Schools, clubs and charities all over Ireland have engaged with and utilised the scheme to raise funds for a wide variety of worthy causes," he pointed out.
The Journal
4 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
We've collectively recycled 1.6 billion bottles and cans via Deposit Return Scheme since last year
THE IRISH PUBLIC has collectively returned more than 1.6 billion bottles and cans through the Deposit Return Scheme since it kicked off at the beginning of last year. The scheme has been receiving bottles and cans from consumers for dedicated recycling programmes since it was introduced in February 2024. Since then, more than 1.6 billion bottles and cans have been processed through the scheme. Minister for Climate Darragh O'Brien said the high level of participation in the scheme 'demonstrates that when change is right, Irish people will embrace it'. Re-turn, the company responsible for running the scheme, estimates that 798 million more containers are now being recycled each year compared to before the scheme began. Additionally, it says that recycling rates for beverage containers have risen from 49% to an estimated 91%, with 76% of containers recycled through the scheme and 15% collected via standard recycling bins. 'These latest recycling figures are far beyond what we had projected to achieve just a year after the end of the transition phase for the scheme,' said Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn. 'They speak to the commitment of the Irish people to sustainability and their desire to support the vision of a greener, cleaner Ireland,' Foley said. Advertisement 'It's vital that we continue returning containers to maintain momentum and ensure lasting change.' New recycling facility for Ireland Re-turn has faced some criticism for needing to ship the plastic waste it collects abroad in order for it to be recycled. Ireland does not currently have the kind of facility needed to carry out high-quality bottle-to-bottle recycling for PET plastic. Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy said in May that it is a 'scandal' that the majority of waste leaves Ireland as part of the recycling process. In a response to his comments to The Journal at the time, a Re-turn spokesperson said that a 'key step in fully recycling PET plastic bottles is turning them into food-grade plastic pellets, but no facility in Ireland can currently do this'. Now, the company has confirmed that it is planning to develop Ireland's first on-island PET bottle-to-bottle recycling facility, which will allow those bottles collected through the scheme to be fully recycled within Ireland. 'This step will reduce Ireland's reliance on exporting PET plastic for processing and support Ireland's long-term sustainability and circular economy goals,' it said. It is currently engaged in a tender process to develop the facility. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
10-07-2025
- General
- The Journal
Recycling trays attached to bins rolled out to towns across the country
THE OPERATOR OF the Deposit Return Scheme is rolling out a bin programme to towns across the country. Following a pilot in Dublin city centre, Re-turn is expanding its 'bin surrounds' programme, allowing people to leave their containers for others to take and bring back thanks to a tray attached to the bin. It was rolled out initially as a way to discourage people going through bins in search of plastic bottles and aluminium cans, as explained by Dublin City Council at the time last year . Trays have installed at 24 bins across Dún Laoghaire harbour, with the scheme set to be extended to Galway City, Meath, Carlow, Clare, Westmeath and further areas of Dublin City Centre in the coming months. That pilot saw a tray attached to 80 bins placed around the capital so that anyone could donate empty bottles or cans while on the go. Advertisement It aims to make recycling visible while preserving valuable recyclable materials and reducing litter. As part of the scheme, it allows other people are then free to take the donated bottles and cans and bring them back, as part of the 'Give Take Return' concept. The goal of the programme is to prevent plastic bottles and cans from being discarded into general waste, and ultimately allow for better recycling while also reducing litter. The pilot is inspired by similar initiatives in the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark according to Re-turn. Re-turn cited research it carried out which it said found that containers left on the bin surrounds were collected on average within 16 minutes. Commenting on the launch, Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn, said that it was committed to providing the public with 'convenient and visible' recycling options. This next phase is being co-funded on an equal basis by Re-turn and participating local authorities, working together to deliver practical solutions that support cleaner streets, stronger recycling habits, lower landfill rates and a reduction in environmental pollution. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
10-07-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Re-turn to roll out bin surrounds programme to towns across Ireland
A scheme whereby surrounds are added to public bins to allow people to more easily retrieve discarded drink containers is being expanded around the country. The initiative from Re-turn, the administrator of the Deposit Return Scheme, follows a successful pilot programme in Dublin city. As part of the next phase, it will be rolled out around Dún Laoghaire Harbour, and also will extend to Galway City, Meath, Carlow, Clare, Westmeath and further areas of Dublin city centre in the coming months. 24 new bin surrounds have been installed across the Dún Laoghaire Harbour area for the expansion there. The bin surrounds hold about a dozen cans and bottles at the front of the bin and are attached to public bins that are already in place. The pilot programme launched in October last year saw 80 bin surrounds added across Dublin City Centre, which Re-turn said experienced a high level of public engagement and support. Research from Re-turn suggested that containers left on the bin surrounds were collected on average within 16 minutes. The aim of the project is provide a practical way to recycle on the go, while reducing landfill waste and environmental pollution. Over 1.6 billion plastic bottles and cans have been recycled through the Deposit Return Scheme since it was introduced in February 2024. The chief executive of Re-turn, Ciaran Foley, said the initiative is "committed to providing the public with convenient and visible recycling options, and the bin surrounds pilot scheme is successfully delivering on that promise". "We are encouraging the public to utilise bin surrounds and assist with the recycling of plastic bottles and cans. Together, we can support the circular economy and make a real difference in our communities and environment," he added. The chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Frank Curran, said the addition of bin surrounds around the harbour "directly supports the implementation of our Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy and aligns with the Council's Climate Action Plan 2024-2029".
