Deposit Return Scheme will 'clean up our town', says Greens Cllr

The new Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and cans will encourage people to recycle and be more conscious about the waste they generate, according to a local Green Party councillor.

From next Thursday, February 1, shoppers will pay a deposit on every plastic bottle and aluminium can they purchase. A deposit of 15c will apply to containers 500mls or less, and a deposit of 25c for each container above 500ml.

The deposit can be reclaimed when the containers are returned to 'reverse vending machines', which are located at supermarkets across Westmeath and the rest of the country.

It is estimated that 1.9 billion plastic bottles and cans are bought every year in Ireland. Over 4,000 retailers have signed up to participate in the scheme and 3,500 reverse vending machines are being installed across the country.

Cllr Hazel Smyth is confident that the scheme will be embraced by the public.

“We need to replace our throwaway culture with a circular economy that recycles and reuses material. It is awful to see beautiful places like Portnashangan at Lough Owel ruined by litter, so this scheme will help motivate people to clean up our town. Only 23 per cent of plastic bottles are recycled in Ireland and we want to take this to 90 per cent.

“The reverse vending machines couldn’t be easier to use. You just go to your local store like Aldi or Tesco and drop off your plastic bottles and cans. There’s no sign up required, it’s simple and convenient. Similar schemes have had great success in Europe, so now is our chance to get rubbish off our roads and into the reverse vending machines.”