Over €54 million worth of plastic bottles and cans went unclaimed in the last year since the Deposit Return Scheme began, it has been revealed.

Over 70% of people are bringing back their bottles and cans and getting their return on investment but about 25% of people don't - why?

On Lunchtime Live various listeners spoke about the DRS and if they do or don’t return bottles and cans.

“I do but I'm on the verge of being part of that percentage that don’t because I'm fed up with it,” Nikki from Dublin said.

“First of all, I was already recycling so when this came in I wasn't overly happy about it, although I'm not entirely selfish, I do realise that there are other people who aren't recycling and it's not all about me, so fair enough.

“But the last time I went down to return, it took me an hour and I didn't have time to stand in a queue for an hour.

“One of the machines was broken and the other machine basically had a queue out the door with people who clearly had been hoarding plastic bottles since they first heard they were going to get money for them.”

A Re-turn Deposit Return Scheme machine is seen at a Tesco supermarket, 27-4-24. Image: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Nikki said the longer she stood in the queue the more she stopped wanting to keep up the DRS.

“The longer I stood there, the more I kept saying, ‘Why don't you just go away and stop standing?’

“Nobody came to fix the second machine.

“Generally speaking, it'll be a good 10 or 20 minutes and I just find it a pain in the ass.

“I would have recycled anyway and now I'm driving somewhere to stand there for an hour - it's irritating - and so I would say that is the reason some people aren't returning.”

"It will get there"

Also on the show, Sinéad from Dublin said she has had a “very positive experience” with the DRS.

“I've had a very positive experience myself and I know other contributors raise a great point,” she said.

“Is the system perfect? No, it's not perfect. Will it suit everybody? No - but it will get there.

“I'm in a very well serviced area with regards to my machines, I don't have to use a queue for a long time.”

Return machines for Bottles and cans to be recycled in at Dunnes Stores in Stephens Green Shopping Centre, Dublin. 01/02/2024 Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Sinéad said she has started putting her vouchers onto a gift card so she can use the money in any of the shops in the shopping chains that she uses.

“All the big multiples, they offer gift cards as well, they could easily look at giving people the option of putting their return scheme receipts on those gift cards and give people a bit more freedom,” she said.

“I know my local GAA club is now accepting return bottles, so if you don't want to go and have to use that money in a particular shop, just donate it to your local GAA club.

“They're going to use that money for resources for the club, so, if you think about it, there's definitely ways to do it.”

Sinéad said the amount of return machines could definitely be increased and access issues could be dealt with - but the scheme is never going to be 100% perfect for everyone.

Listen back here:

A worker demonstrates a Deposit Return Scheme Reverse Vending Machine in a Marks & Spencer supermarket in Dublin, 1-2-34. Image: Stephanie Rohan/Newstalk