Deposit Return Scheme: what happens all those containers? What about the unclaimed money?

The Deposit Return Scheme, established by beverage producers in 2022, has disbursed a total of €700,000 to its chief executive, Ciarán Foley, and other board members. Despite facing criticism from opposition politicians for not disclosing the remuneration of its top staff, the not-for-profit company has implemented the scheme in an effort to boost recycling rates and decrease waste. However, since its launch in early 2024, the scheme has encountered challenges.

Readers of PriceWatch have voiced dissatisfaction with the scheme, while listeners of Liveline have expressed concerns about costs and the inconvenience it poses. Some critics have even suggested limiting access to the scheme to individuals with registered domestic waste collection contracts to curb "opportunistic" bin scavenging. Nonetheless, the number of people utilizing the scheme has risen year-over-year.

According to advocates, the scheme has led to a substantial increase in recycling, with 1.4 billion cans and bottles returned in 2023, compared to 877 million in 2024. The return rate has also improved, rising from 53.9 to 76.4 percent.

As The Irish Times seeks your input on the Deposit Return Scheme, they invite you to share your thoughts on the matter. Have you found the scheme to be a positive force for recycling? Do you have experience using the service at large and small retailers, and if so, how have you perceived machine maintenance? If you are a retailer, how have you found the scheme's impact on your business?

Have you noticed an increase in people rummaging through bins or observing a rise in rubbish being cleared from bins and scattered on footpaths in pursuit of returnable bottles and cans? Finally, do you believe the environmental benefits of the scheme outweigh any potential drawbacks? Please provide your comments using the form below, keeping your submission to 400 words or less, and include a phone number for verification purposes only.

Your contact details will be kept confidential, and if you prefer to remain anonymous in any published articles, please indicate this in your submission.