The deposit return scheme needs to expand to “other plastics” beyond bottles and cans, according to some fans of the policy. 

Re-turn has entered a partnership with several children’s charities, including Barnardos and Childline, where people can return their containers at festivals, concerts and sports matches and designated bins for charity. 

The money raised will be equally divided between all six charities which represent over 165,000 service users. 

The scheme was introduced at Bloom Festival in Phoenix Park last weekend, which has prompted conversations over where the deposit return scheme should go next. 

Wicklow native Lana attended Bloom last weekend and said Ireland needs to roll out more across the country. 

“It needs to be more widespread in general,” she told Lunchtime Live. 

She said the charity scheme in particular should be rolled out as much as possible. 

The deposit return scheme should also expand to other plastic materials such as small cups. 

Pictured (L-R) Susan McQuaid-O’Dwyer, Make a Wish Ireland, Deirdre Walsh, Jack and Jill, Mary Gamble, Barnardos, Tim O’Dea, Barretstown, Kerry McLaverty, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice and John Church, Childline by ISPCC, at the announcement of the new charity fundraising initiative ‘Return for Children’. Image: Conor McCabe Photography

She pointed out that anyone who already recycled now has to keep two separate recycling bags – one for cans and bottles and one for everything else. 

“It just seems like a silly exercise if half your plastic waste is coming in from [things like cups] and the bins are just sitting there only for bottles,” she said. 

One texter said the charity bins should be introduced in Dublin Airport as shops in the airport all sell bottles under the scheme. 

“There is no way to recycle at the airport unless you bring them on holiday and back with you - who is going to do that?” she said. 

Deposit return scheme for charity

Gareth, who also attended Bloom said the charity bins are a “terrific idea” for festivals and other events. 

“You would go out and buy a couple of drinks – three, four easily – but you’re not going to carry those around,” he said. 

“You know the money isn’t being wasted.” 

In his career as a landscaper, he has noticed how popular the deposit return scheme has become. 

“We pick up all our cans and stuff like that and we have a depot we’re throwing everything into,” he said. 

“It’s a huge box – you could lie in it. 

“We [also] drove down the road and could see a can that’s been thrown out with a takeaway – in the evening time we’d look, and the can is gone. 

“The rubbish is there but the can is gone.” 

Since the deposit return scheme was introduced four months ago, nearly 150 million drink containers have been returned and recycled.