On February 1, 2024, Ireland launched its deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use beverage containers, becoming the 16th European country to adopt it. A year later, a milestone was reached when the 1 billionth container was recovered at a Lidl store in Dublin, a significant achievement for a nation of 5.3 million inhabitants.
Unlike other more complicated experiences, such as Scotland’s, the Irish implementation has been smooth, serving as a reference for countries like England and Wales, which plan to introduce similar models.
The system covers PET bottles and aluminum cans between 150 ml and 3 liters, with deposits of 15 or 25 cents depending on size. Currently, it has more than 3,200 collection points, both automatic and manual, and over 9,800 registered products. Since its launch, more than 1.2 billion containers have been recovered, according to data from Sensoneo, the technology company responsible for the computer system that manages it.
Sensoneo has implemented similar solutions in eight other countries, and its cloud-based platform allows for efficient and transparent management. According to Alan Pearson, head of the Irish operator Re-turn, technology has been key to the system’s effectiveness, facilitating its scalability. For his part, Sensoneo’s CEO, Martin Basila, emphasizes that this model demonstrates how a well-managed DRS can achieve high collection rates and citizen satisfaction.
Ireland continues to expand its network of return points to facilitate recycling in places such as airports, hospitals, prisons, stadiums, and public offices, thus reinforcing its commitment to the circular economy.
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