Recycling Policy

Thursday, 18 April 2024

Questions (136)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

136. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 9 April 2024, to report on Ireland’s engagement rate with the deposit return scheme, compared with other similar schemes abroad at the stage of introduction; to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of Ireland’s engagement in comparison with the other countries cited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17129/24]

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Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme went live on 1st February 2024 and has made a very solid start, demonstrating good public engagement. A transition period will remain in place until 1st June 2024 to manage the selling off of old stock and the introduction of new, Re-turn logo-ed stock. To date, 47M PET and aluminium containers have been collected under the scheme.

Whilst a multi-country dataset is not publicly available, an assessment by Re-turn of recently launched schemes in Europe and comparison with their early stages of operation indicates that Ireland is performing well. This assessment is based on data and insights shared voluntarily and generously by these new schemes in other member states.

Question No. 137 answered with Question No. 135.

Question No. 138 answered with Question No. 134.