Irish Rail has warned people not to rummage through station bins for bottles and cans to get Deposit Return Scheme vouchers.

There are several signs around train station bins urging them not to reach into them. 

Spokesperson Barry Kenny said he has noticed an increase in people searching through bins since the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme. 

Bins in public places are apparently becoming popular for people looking to make 15 or 25 cents when they bring bottles and cans to reverse vending machines. 

Mr Kenny said people who put their hands in bins risk getting pricked by syringes and “injuring themselves unnecessarily”. 

“We have seen an increase in the instance of people rummaging in bins since the Deposit Return Scheme has been introduced," he said.

"People may not be aware of the type of risks that do exist there that our own staff, our own cleaning contractors would be aware of,” he said. 

“So, the notices are there just as an assistance to our customers and to ensure that we don't have instances of injury.” 

Deposit Return Scheme

The Deposit Return Scheme was first introduced in February, charging customers an extra 15 or 25 cents on bottles and cans that can be refunded at reverse vending machines. 

The scheme averaged 2.9 million returns per day in June - a significant rise from two million containers returned in the entire month of February. 

Re-turn has said consumers are on track to achieve over 150 million drink containers returned since the launch of the scheme. 

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

Data shows that the most popular days to return containers are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. 

The scheme has not stopped some people from throwing their containers away or recycling them like before. 

Neither shops nor Re-Turn are allowed to keep unclaimed deposits – with the unclaimed cash due to be used for new recycling initiatives. 

In June, Re-turn entered into a partnership with several children’s charities where people at large events such as festivals, concerts and sports matches can donate their bottles and cans at designated Deposit Return Scheme bins for charity.