Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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A national Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is being introduced to encourage more people to recycle plastic bottles and aluminium cans and to ensure we meet our ambitious EU targets for the recycling of those containers under EU Single Use Plastics and Packaging legislation.

The DRS Regulations place a legal obligation on all retailers who sell in-scope beverages to register with Re-turn, the DRS operator, and to charge their customers a deposit for every in-scope drink sold, to take back the empty drink container and to refund the deposit when it is returned for recycling.

Re-turn, since their appointment in July 2022, have been engaging directly with retailers to prepare them for DRS. A retailer roadshow (comprising 11 locations around the country) was completed last summer. Re-turn have also held numerous meetings, webinars and workshops and have published comprehensive guidance and useful information for retailers on their website at www.re-turn.ie/retailer. A national communications campaign is also underway.

To date just almost 3,600 retailers, representing over 5,300 retail premises, have registered for the scheme. Re-turn are available to assist any retailer with the registration process and can be contacted at retailer@re-turn.ie. I would encourage any retailer who has not yet engaged with Re-turn to do so as soon as possible.