Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

41. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the up-to-date position on the provision of the deposit return scheme at civic amenity sites in Cork county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17996/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) operates on a return-to-retail model, where consumers bring empty containers back to a retailer to recoup their deposit. There are currently over 3,200 retail return points, about 90% of which are Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), providing a high level of coverage across the country. To date, 1.2 billion containers have been returned through retail collection points.

The DRS scheme also allows for non-retail operators, such as civic amenity sites, to provide take-back facilities to complement the collection infrastructure provided by retailers. The priority for Re-turn, the DRS operator, is to maximise the availability of RVMs to ensure every consumer has easy access to a return point. An RVM Coverage Roadmap is being developed to identify locations of interest where no RVM return point currently exists. Civic amenity sites will be considered as part of this Roadmap.

A number of local authorities have expressed interest in installing reverse vending machines at civic amenity sites as part of the next phase of roll-out. I would welcome Cork County Council also getting involved.