In a statement yesterday (28 November), the government said the opening of registration for producers and retailers marks the “launch” of the country’s system.
An estimated 1.9 billion drinks bottles and cans are consumed each year in Ireland, both in-house and ‘on the go’.
Under the system, a €0.15 deposit will apply to containers of 500 millilitres or less, with €0.25 deposit applied to any bigger container.
It will include PET plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans between 150ml and 3 litres.
If the February 2024 date for the rollout is met, it will see the Irish government introduce the system before England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which is expected in ‘late 2024’. Scotland is aiming to introduce the system in 2023.
This could lead to separate system being in place across the respective borders between Ireland and Northern Ireland, and Scotland and England, something producers were keen to avoid during consultation.
Scheme
The government explained that the scheme will be operated by Deposit Return Scheme Ireland CLG, trading as Re-Turn, with the operator appointed in July by minister Smyth. It added that all producers and retailers are obliged to register with Re-Turn, with the registration open from yesterday (28 November).
According to the government, the department will work closely with Re-turn on the implementation of the scheme, “which will start immediately with the registration of producers and retailers”. The planned ‘go-live’ date for consumers is February 2024.
Commenting on the launch of the scheme, Ireland’s minister for circular economy Smyth said that the DRS will “transform the way we think about empty drinks bottles and cans”.
He added: “The scheme is a massive undertaking for producers and retailers and Re-turn, the producer-led company, who have shown great commitment and leadership in coming together to develop it.”
Targets
Tony Keohane, chair of DRS Ireland, explained that under the ‘Single Use Plastics Directive’, Ireland “must ensure the separate collection of 77% of plastic drinks bottles placed on the market by 2025”. He noted that this is set to rise to 90% in 2029, with the scheme expected to help reach the target.
A robust and effective system will be in place by February 2024
- Mindy O’Brien, Voice Ireland
Mindy O’Brien, chief executive of environmental charity VOICE Ireland, welcomed this move. Ms O’Brien commented: “VOICE has been advocating for the establishment of a drinks container DRS for over 20 years to combat litter and the loss of valuable resources. Currently too many plastic bottles and aluminium cans end up in our countryside, beaches and as marine litter, impacting wildlife.”
She continued that the organisation also calls for the eventual expansion of the DRS to accept reusable containers to embrace a more circular economy “as we must move away from single use”.
“To meet our climate change targets, we need to reduce the consumption of resources, especially fossil fuel that is used to produce plastic. We look forward to working with DRS Ireland and Re-Turn to create the public awareness around this new initiative and to ensure that a robust and effective system will be in place by February 2024,” Ms O’Brien concluded.
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