Reverse vending machines installed in Ballincollig ahead of new recycling scheme
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It's hard to miss the new hulking reverse vending machines greeting shoppers at the doors of major retailers in recent weeks in anticipation of a new recycling scheme next month.
The holes in the machines at the likes of SuperValu, Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, and other retail outlets may be covered up for now but when February 1 comes around, they will be the conduit for people and authorities to make sure that the millions of cans and plastic bottles consumed in Ireland are properly given a new lease of life through recycling.
It may come as a shock to people initially when people come to pay for their cans or bottles of cola, lemonade, or beer that an extra 15c is being charged for containers from 150ml to 500mls, and 25c for containers over 500ml to three litres.
However, once they consume the drink, people can get that 15c or 25c back by returning the can or bottle to the reverse vending machines that are now constructed in retail outlets around the country, the operator of the nationwide scheme, Re-turn, said.
As well as the reverse vending machines that are visible, people can also get their money back by manually returning their containers at the counters in some stores.
"Consumers receive the deposit back when they return the plastic bottle or can with the Re-turn logo that is empty and undamaged to participating shops and supermarkets nationwide.
"If through a reverse vending machine, consumers will be issued a voucher that can be redeemed at the till against store purchases or as a cash refund. If over the counter, retailers must check the drinks container features the Re-turn logo and is undamaged and then provide a refund," Re-turn said.
Cormac Quish of Quish's SuperValu in Ballincollig in Cork said that his store made a hefty investment in two such machines.
"Ours are built, connected, installed, and ready to go. To be fair, any inquiries we got from customers so far about what was being built has been very positive when we told them.
"We had to do it, it is legally mandated, and we are good to go on February 1. I do think it will be a bit of a shock to the general consumer overall, nobody has really been paying attention to it so far. We have two top-of-the-line machines in Ballincollig, that was a major outlay for us financially. We just had to take the hit installing them," he said.
From February 1, the likes of cans and bottles marked with a "Re-turn" logo will be eligible for the scheme. There will be a bedding-in period for containers that have no such logo, according to authorities.
"To prevent waste, for a limited period, from February 1 there will be some stock of plastic bottles and cans without the Re-turn logo. As consumers will not have paid a deposit on these plastic bottles and cans, they can be placed in recycling bins," Re-turn says.
Savvy consumers who think they could make a few quid between now and February 1 by collecting cans and bottles in order to get money in exchange are out of luck unfortunately.
"Re-turn is asking consumers not to store drinks containers before the scheme goes live as these bottles will not have the Re-turn logo and are therefore ineligible for any deposit refund as no deposit has been paid," the body said.
Containers must be returned in good condition in order for the 15c or 30c to be paid back — in other words, consumers are advised not to crush or squeeze the plastic bottles and cans.
People wondering if their own recycling bins are now redundant when it comes to cans and bottles can rest assured that they are not. It just means that they are not guaranteed to be recycled, whereas the ones put in the new reverse vending machines will fare far better when it comes to the chances of being used again.
"While all consumers should use their recycling bins for mixed dry recyclables, we would ask that consumers return their plastic bottles and cans with the Re-turn logo to local participating shops and supermarkets to redeem their deposit.
"The separate collection of these plastic bottles and cans guarantees a high-quality recyclate material is returned and recycled and there is no cross-contamination. The introduction of deposit return is a proven method of increasing recycling rates, with great success in a number of other European countries," Re-turn said.
Not every drinks container is eligible for deposit return, it said.
"Only drinks containers in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles, aluminium and steel cans from 150ml to three litres are included in the scheme. All containers included in the scheme will feature the Re-turn logo.
"Items that are not included in the deposit return scheme include any dairy drinks products in plastic containers or cartons, eg milk, yogurt drinks, steel, and tin cans that contain foodstuffs, containers for cleaning supplies. These items should continue to be disposed of in a recycling bin," Re-turn said.