Consumer

The scheme is funded and operated by industry under the EPR model. Re-turn relies on three sources of income: producer fees, the sale of recyclate, and unredeemed deposits. Producer fees and the sale of high-quality recyclable materials form the backbone of the financial model, providing structured, predictable funding. Unredeemed deposits provide an additional but variable source of income, influenced by consumer behaviour and redemption rates. Re-turn operates strictly on a not-for-profit basis, which means any surplus is reinvested into running and improving the scheme, not distributed as profit.

The scheme is funded and operated by industry under the EPR model. Re-turn relies on three sources of income: producer fees, the sale of recyclate, and unredeemed deposits. Producer fees and the sale of high-quality recyclable materials form the backbone of the financial model, providing structured, predictable funding. Unredeemed deposits provide an additional but variable source of income, influenced by consumer behaviour and redemption rates. Re-turn operates strictly on a not-for-profit basis, which means any surplus is reinvested into running and improving the scheme, not distributed as profit.

The Deposit Return Scheme itself is not designed to make money. Re-turn manages the deposit flow, ensuring refunds are returned to consumers. Any funds arising from unredeemed deposits are reinvested in operations, infrastructure, and circular economy initiatives.

Revenue from unclaimed deposits and other sources that is in excess of the cost of operating the scheme is reinvested in the scheme and the circular economy, in line with Re-turn’s not-for-profit model. Excess funds are reinvested into a variety of areas to enhance the scheme, including expanding the return network, rolling out new bulk-feed RVMs, and progressing Ireland’s first PET bottle-to-bottle recycling facility.

High levels of unredeemed deposits were expected at the beginning of the scheme, as consumers were still adapting to the new system. This pattern is consistent with the experience of deposit return schemes worldwide. As Irish consumers have embraced the scheme, return rates have steadily risen and the level of unclaimed deposits has fallen.

The Deposit Return Scheme has already transformed recycling in Ireland. Since its launch in February 2024, recycling rates for in-scope containers have risen dramatically – from 49% before the scheme began to approximately 90% today. With almost 2.5 billion containers re-turned to date, this represents hundreds of millions more bottles and cans being recycled.

Consumer habits have shifted rapidly. In a short space of time, the vast majority of Irish people have embraced the routine of returning bottles and cans, turning what was once seen as waste into valuable resources. This behavioural change reflects a broader cultural shift towards sustainability, shared responsibility, and community participation.

The scheme has delivered visible improvements in communities nationwide. Bottle and can litter has fallen by half across the country since launch, while coastal monitoring shows the cleanest shorelines in 25 years.

At present, Ireland does not have the facilities to recycle PET bottles and aluminium cans into new, food-grade containers. As a result, some material must still be exported for recycling overseas. Far from undermining the scheme, however, this supply of clean, high-quality recyclable material makes investment in local infrastructure viable. As a result of the scheme, there is now a sufficient supply of high-quality PET, making Ireland’s first on-island PET bottle to bottle recycling facility financially viable. Re-turn is now advancing a tender process to develop the facility, which will ensure that in future, bottles returned here are recycled into new bottles in Ireland.

More than 4,600 schools, clubs and community organisations have engaged with the scheme, using returned containers as a fundraising tool. Through our “Return for Children” initiative and local grassroots participation, the scheme is supporting schools, sports clubs and community projects across Ireland on an ongoing basis.

While almost all drinks containers on the market now feature the Re‑turn logo, a small number without the logo may still appear from time to time. If a deposit is charged on these containers, you will still receive your deposit back when you return them to any Re‑turn Deposit Return Point.

You have the choice to receive your refund against a store-bought purchase or in cash.

The variable deposit fees reflect the size of the drinks containers and is reflective of the value of the material. The larger the container, the more valuable the plastic and aluminium for recycling purposes.

The drinks containers included in the Scheme are PET plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans between 150mls and 3 litres. A deposit of 15c applies to containers 500mls or less and a deposit of 25c for each container from 500ml to 3 litres.

When you buy a drink with the Re‑turn logo, a small deposit is added to the price. You get this deposit back when you return the empty bottle or can through the Re‑turn Reverse Vending Machines.

PET plastic drinks containers, steel and aluminum cans between 150ml and 3 litres that show the Re-turn logo are accepted. They will need to be empty, undamaged and the barcode needs to be clearly legible. There is no need to wash the cans and bottles.

Not all drinks containers are eligible for Deposit Return. No dairy products are included in the Scheme. Eg. Milk, yogurt drinks. These containers will  not have a Re-turn logo, but should still be recycled.

Retailers may opt for either manual return or for automatic collection, through Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs). Retailers have the choice of whether they opt for a reverse vending machine or not. It is not compulsory for any retailer to have an RVM.

You can return your empty, undamaged plastic bottle with or without the lid. We recommend returning bottles with caps, because this will ensure that the cap is recycled, too. Also, if the bottle cap is still on, it is easier to preserve the shape of the bottle.

Currently, Ireland has a recycling rate of over 80% for glass and is surpassing recycling targets for this material. As a result, there are no plans to include glass in the Scheme but this may be open to change in the future.

All containers collected will be sent for recycling. The Deposit Return Scheme focuses on maximising the volume and quality of material collected for recycling.

DRSI CLG, trading as Re-turn, is a company limited by guarantee and was established by beverage producers and retailers in order to fulfil their obligations under the Separate Collection (Deposit Return Scheme) Regulations 2021. Re-turn operates strictly on a not-for-profit basis, which means any surplus is reinvested into running and improving the scheme, not distributed as profit.

The Scheme brings together all parties involved in the manufacture, selling and consumption of beverages and has proved very successful internationally in increasing collection rates.

Each RVM will provide a clear set of instructions on how to return your bottles and cans. Instructions will also be displayed on screen.

Notify the Retailer of RVM malfunction.

Contact us via email: info@re-turn.ie

Or give us a call on 01 461 8680

If you produce, manufacture , import and/or sell online in-scope beverages (PET bottles or Aluminium and steel cans 150ml-3L) – you play a key role in the Deposit Return Scheme and must register with Re-turn to meet your environmental and legal obligations.

Yes, Ireland’s DRS Legislation defines a ‘Producer’ as any person, irrespective of the selling technique used, who is first to place  in-scope products on the market in the Republic of Ireland.

Producers must register with the scheme prior to placing any of their products on the market in the Republic of Ireland. Following registration and the signing of the Membership Agreement, Producers must register all ‘in-scope’ products on the Re-turn website. The Scheme officially went live in February 2024.

The product should be submitted for discontinuation on the portal. Contact the Producer Team for guidance on how to do this at producers@re-turn.ie.

The registration of new products, as well as any changes to existing products or their specifications, must be submitted on the Re-turn portal for approval. Re-turn may request sample containers for review as part of this process.

No. All ‘in-scope’ products must display the Re-turn logo and comply with the technical and labelling requirements outlined in the Re-turn Technical Specification and Labelling Manual.

Contact us via email: producers@re-turn.ie

Or give us a call on 01 461 8680

Yes. All Retailers that sell ‘in scope’ drinks – PET plastic bottles, aluminium/steel cans from 150ml to 3 litres – must register with Re-turn in order to fulfil their environmental and legislative responsibilities.

All ‘in-scope’ beverage containers must display the Re-turn logo and include an ROI specific or international barcode that is registered with the scheme. All producers are required to comply with the labelling guidelines outlined in Re-turn’s Technical Specifications and Labelling Manual.

Currently, Ireland achieves a recycling rate of over 80% for glass, exceeding the set targets for this material. As a result, glass is not included in the Scheme at this time; however, this may be subject to change in the future.

Yes. All Retailers that sell ‘in scope’ drinks – PET plastic bottles, aluminium/steel cans from 150ml to 3 litres – must register with Re-turn in order to fulfil their environmental and legislative responsibilities. Initial registration will open in late November 2022 and all Retailers will be provided with timelines to complete their registration.

PET plastic bottles and aluminium or steel cans  between 150ml and 3 litres are included in the Deposit Return Scheme. All eligible containers will display the Re-turn logo making identification easy for consumers and retailers accepting manual returns.

When the Retailer purchases in scope drinks from the Producer, they pay the cost of the drink plus a deposit fee on each unit. Retailers then sell the drink to the consumer and charge the cost of the drink plus the deposit fee. When the consumer finishes the beverage, they will return the empty,  undamaged drinks container to the Retailer and receive a full refund on their deposit fee. The Deposit Scheme Operator pays the retailer for all refunded deposit fees. Therefore, the deposit fee goes full circle and is cost neutral for all involved

Yes. All registered Retailers will be required to accept Re-turn drinks containers regardless of where they were purchased or where the deposit was paid. Retailers will receive a Handling Fee for all containers they take back.

Retailers may opt for either manual return or for automatic collection, through Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs). Retailers have the choice of whether they opt for a reverse vending machine or not. It is not compulsory for any retailer to have a reverse vending machine.

All Retailers are paid a ‘Handling Fee’  which ensures that the Deposit Return Scheme is cost neutral for them. It covers the associated costs of accepting and sorting drinks containers in the retail environment.  The handling fee will be the same for plastic bottles and cans but will vary according to whether containers are collected manually or through a reverse vending machine.

The Consumer will have the choice to use their refunded Deposit Fee against a store bought purchase, receive in cash or put towards a charitable cause.

A Retailer will have two options when offering a take-back service for the empty beverage containers returned by consumers:

Manual collection or

Automatic collection through a Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)

The volume of sales (and expected returns) of beverage containers is a key driver in determining whether a Retailer should rely on manual collection or opt for automatic collection via RVMs.

Consumers return the drinks container over the counter to the Retailer. The Retailer checks that the drinks container is empty, undamaged, features the Re-turn logo and that the barcode is clearly visible. The Consumer is then reimbursed the value of the Deposit. Re-turn reimburses the Retailer for all validated manual returns collected.

Manual collections will be stored in a barcoded bag provided by Re-turn, stored on premise until the collection driver arrives and scans the bag.
RVMs must be emptied when full. The barcoded bag must be sealed and stored on premise until the collection driver arrives who will scan the bag.
All bags and tags for use in both methods will be provided by Re-turn and storage options will be at the discretion of the retailer.

Collections from stores with Reverse Vending Machines and manual collections will operate throughout the week except on Sunday. For some larger retail outlets, there may be up to three collections per week while retailers operating manual returns will have one collection per week. Collection frequencies will be adjusted to meet demand and difficult operational situations such as stores in city centre areas. The scheme aims to ensure an efficient collection system based on returns to each store.

Contact us via email:  info@re-turn.ie

Or give us a call on  01 461 8680

When you are unsure if a product is registered, you can enter the barcode into our barcode checker to see find out the registration status.
Our barcode checker can be found here- https://re-turn.aecordigitalqa.com/consumer/#barcodeChecker

Any company that sells/supplies in-scope products by wholesale in ROI is considered a Distributor according to the Republic of Ireland’s Separate Collections(Deposit Return Scheme) Regulations-S.I. No. 33 of 2024.

You have a legal obligation to register with Re-turn as a Distributor if you sell/supply products registered under other Re-turn producers.

You must also ensure all in-scope products you distribute are registered with Re-turn and include a Re-turn logo.

For all in-scope products placed on the market in ROI, you must charge a deposit and the deposit must be itemised as a separate line item on any invoice, receipt, credit note, dispatch and delivery docket containing in-scope products.

For in-scope products up to and including container sizes of 500ml, the deposit amount is €0.15.

For in-scope products over 500ml and up to 3L, the deposit amount is €0.25.

No. If you import products from producers that are based outside of ROI and you are the first to place those products on the ROI market, you are considered the Producer of those imported products.

As an importer, you have a legal obligation to register as a Producer and all in-scope imported products to be supplied in ROI must be registered under your Producer registration. Your products must also comply with Re-turn brand guidelines, including a Re-turn logo. For more information on Producer and product requirements, please visit our Producer page.

No. If you import products from producers that are based outside of ROI and you are the first to place those products on the ROI market, you are considered the Producer of those imported products.

As an importer, you have a legal obligation to register as a Producer and all in-scope imported products to be supplied in ROI must be registered under your Producer registration. Your products must also comply with Re-turn brand guidelines, including a Re-turn logo. For more information on Producer and product requirements, please visit our Producer page.

No. Your Producer registration only covers the products you have registered under your own Producer registration. You cannot legally sell/supply any other in-scope products unless you are also registered as a Distributor and/or Retailer. If you supply products registered under other producers to your wholesale business customers, you must register as a Distributor. If you sell products registered under other producers to the final consumer, you must register as a Retailer.

No. If you only sell/supply your own imported products and you do not sell/supply any products registered under other registered Producers, you do not need to register as a Distributor. You are only required to register as a Producer. For more information on Producer and product requirements, please visit our Producer page.

No. Vending machine sales are considered retail sales because they are sales to the final consumer. Your Distributor registration only covers wholesale trade e.g. sales to other businesses customers. You must register as a Retailer in order to sell/supply to the final consumer in any capacity, including vending machine operations. Vending machines should be listed as individual premises under your Retailer registration. If you would like support registering your vending machines, please email us at distributors@re-turn.ie

No, Distributors do not need to apply for a takeback exemption as they do not have any takeback obligations under the regulations.

Products sold for in-flight/on-board consumption on airlines or ships departing the Republic of Ireland(ROI) are classed as exports, as they are not placed on the market in ROI.

Export products do not need to be registered with Re-turn. For more information, please see our Export, Airport and Maritime Stock Guidance. This document can be found in the Distributor Documents to Download section.

In this case, you should purchase international barcode Re-turn stock from the Producer as this is the only stock that can be sold in ROI and as export to NI or another jurisdiction. If you cannot determine what quantity of the stock will be sold as export at the time of your purchase, the Producer should charge deposits on 100% of the stock purchased. Once you’ve sold a quantity of this stock on as export outside of ROI with no deposit, you may request a refund for the deposits you were unable to recover as part of your export sale(s). For more information on export stock treatment, please see our Export, Airport and Maritime Stock Guidance. For more information on deposit refunds and eligibility, please see our Deposit Refund Guidance. Both documents may be found in the Distributor Documents to Download section.

ROI only barcoded stock is meant for sale in ROI only. As all sales are domestic, a deposit must always be charged to the customer. You recover the deposit you paid to the Producer when you sell the product on to your ROI customer, so there is never a need for a deposit refund.

International barcode stock may be sold in ROI or outside of ROI to NI or another jurisdication as export. If international barcode stock being sold as export, you may request to purchase this stock from the Producer without a deposit. Ultimately, it is up to the Producer to determine if the international barcode stock is being placed on the market in ROI or sold as export when selling to Distributors and if a deposit should be charged.

The Producer has the right to charge a deposit on any international barcode stock as they determine necessary. You are obliged to pay a deposit on international barcode stock if the Producer charges a deposit. If the you go on to sell this stock as export with no deposit, you are unable to recover the deposit they paid to the Producer.

As international barcode stock is the only barcode type where it is possible that the Distributor may be unable to recover their deposit, this is the only barcode type eligible for deposit refunds.

You should report this to us at enforcement@re-turn.ie. Please include as much information as possible, for example: Where did you see non-Re-turn stock for sale? Which businesses were involved? What date did this occur? Our enforcement team will investigate accordingly.

For more information on the treatment of export stock, including acceptable stock for export trade, please see our Export, Airport and Maritime Stock Guidance. This document can be found in the Distributor Documents to Download section

ROI only barcoded stock is meant for sale in ROI only. As all sales are domestic, a deposit must always be charged to the customer. You recover the deposit you paid to the Producer when you sell the product on to your ROI customer, so there is never a need for a deposit refund.

International barcode stock may be sold in ROI or outside of ROI to NI or another jurisdication as export. If international barcode stock being sold as export, you may request to purchase this stock from the Producer without a deposit. Ultimately, it is up to the Producer to determine if the international barcode stock is being placed on the market in ROI or sold as export when selling to Distributors and if a deposit should be charged.

The Producer has the right to charge a deposit on any international barcode stock as they determine necessary. You are obliged to pay a deposit on international barcode stock if the Producer charges a deposit. If the you go on to sell this stock as export with no deposit, you are unable to recover the deposit they paid to the Producer.

As international barcode stock is the only barcode type where it is possible that the Distributor may be unable to recover their deposit, this is the only barcode type eligible for deposit refunds

We can provide Re-turn bins and bags, which charities, clubs, schools, businesses, and tidy towns use for fundraising. Through community initiatives, we aim to build a sense of community while engaging in sustainable activities and safeguarding our natural environment. Whether by offering resources such as digital assets or providing hands-on support, Re-turn is here to assist community initiatives in your area.

The 360-litre bin is free of charge, lockable, and features a rosette opening on the lid which has been designed to facilitate insertion of bottles/cans and to minimise heavy contamination. Heavy-duty, reusable bags are provided to line the bin, along with keys, at the time of delivery.

Please note: Re-turn does not collect loose materials. Cans and bottles must be processed through a reverse vending machine to ensure they are compacted, uncontaminated, and suitable for recycling. As a ‘Return to Retail’ initiative, containers should be returned to a store where deposit vouchers can be exchanged for cash.

You can exchange the value for cash when you get your deposit voucher from the reverse vending machine (RVM).

We recommend partnering with a local retailer. You can arrange a convenient time with the retailer for you to process bottles and cans through the machine. This is usually done before opening or after closing, ensuring exclusive access. Some retailers may also provide a staff member to assist, but this can be agreed upon directly. We have asked retailers to ensure bins are emptied before your arrival.

All charities can use the Deposit Return Scheme for fundraising. Return for Children is Re-turn’s charity partner for selected events and festivals that Re-turn partners with.

Companies with a large workforce can purchase a reverse vending machine and set the machine up so that all deposits are donated to charity instead. No voucher will be given to the user to redeem the deposit. For more information on RVMs please contact communities@re-turn.ie.

Companies that don’t wish to purchase an RVM can bring their empty containers to a local retailer with an RVM. The retailer will exchange the deposit voucher for cash, and this can be used to donate through platforms like iDonate. Bins, bags, and assets are also available for companies. See our Community Initiative Map here.

Companies can hand over their containers to fundraising initiatives that have already been set up locally to help support the fundraiser.

The map will display your Eircode and Email address only—no other contact details will be visible.​​ We require your consent before adding any initiative to the map. If you’re interested, simply reply YES or NO. You can request removal at any time.​ If you haven’t received your bin yet, don’t worry—we won’t add you until you do, but we still need your confirmation.​​ For reference, see our community map here. ​​

To ensure accurate and appropriate contact details, please provide a general email (not a personal one). If you requested a bin on behalf of a club, school, etc., kindly provide an email directly from them.​​ Please reply with your preferred contact email at your earliest convenience.

A bin surround is a stainless steel recycling shelf installed on public waste bins, helping Ireland transition to a circular economy and supporting towns and cities with high on-the-go littering rates.

The benefits of on-the-go recycling include increased redemption rates, enhanced reuse, and reduced landfill waste and environmental pollution.

Local authorities across Ireland are actively engaging with the bin surrounds pilot in compliance with the EU Single-Use Plastic directive and Ireland’s strategy for a circular economy.

According to the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment (DCEE), it is estimated that over 5 million plastic drink bottles and aluminium cans are consumed every day in Ireland. Drink containers are often thrown away in mixed waste or litter. Currently, our recycling on-the-go rate is approximately 23%. Ireland must get to 90% by 2029 to meet its European recycling targets. For more details, click here.