Recycling

05:00, 15 JUN 2026

Record year for Irish e-waste recycling but targets need to be modernised

But despite the record performance, the country’s largest e-waste recycling scheme warned that the European measurement system fails to capture the full picture of the nation’s recycling progress.

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'You tolerated Re-turn taking your money - your award winning children are next'

'The Re-turn scheme, the world's most inefficient scheme when it comes to hyphens, is - alas - still with us... and is looking to the future'

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'Disgraceful': Fine Gael councillor hired by Re-turn to lobby Fine Gael minister responsible for Deposit Return Scheme

Eoin O’Driscoll previously worked for Teneo, the advisory firm that manages public relations for Re-turn

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'Shambolic' that Re-turn scheme has cost Dublin City Council €500k, says TD

Dublin City Council spends three hours in every 24-hour cycle dealing with 'bin interference'

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Re-turn scheme: Medics call for 'infection-control' over sticky can risk of 'microbial growth', rodents and flies

An emergency medicine consultant, a GP, and a public health expert warned that residues from alcohol and sugary drinks can support microbial growth - and attract flies and rodents

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Average Easter egg spend of Irish households calculated as shoppers flag important factor in their choice

Households with children are expected to spend around €40 on Easter eggs

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Binman shares warning about putting 1 common item in recycling or compost bins

TikTok binman Ashley, who posts as The No1 Binman, has warned that a popular food should never go in food waste or recycling bins as it's not biodegradable and wrappers contain paper-aluminium combinations

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Dublin City Council facing 'financial emergency' due to Deposit Return Scheme clean-up costs

Dublin City Council

Councillors claim that a serious public health and safety situation is being caused as a direct result of the scheme

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Under fire Deposit Return Scheme to create major new way for Irish households to get their money back

Exclusive: Climate Minister Darragh O’Brien spoke about criticism of the scheme, hopes for the future and accessibility issues in a wide-ranging interview with the Irish Mirror.

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Does Ireland need a deposit return scheme for its 200 million coffee cups?

A solution from a Danish city could help tackle our 200 million discarded cups every year

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Irish consumers generate €66m for Re-Turn by not redeeming deposits

Re-Turn went live with its Deposit Return Scheme operations on February 1, 2024

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Australian man buys two-bedroom home with money from local bottle return scheme

Damian Gordon, a 36-year-old man, was able to purchase his two-bedroom house after collecting and returning thousands of recyclables through his area’s return scheme

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Re-turn planning bulk-feed machines that can take large volumes of bottles and cans

Consumers currently have to hand-feed individual cans and bottles into reverse vending machines one at a time with the barcode facing upwards

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Dublin recycling centre ordered to pay €12k to former employee subject to harassment over sexual orientation

Workplace Relations Commission

Ms Jones noted Mr Slattery had been very open about being gay and his relationship with a colleague prior to the second incident but that he was now afraid of disclosing details of his private life

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Concern EU recycling targets ignore impact of growing circular economy in Ireland

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Ireland, which is marking 20 years in operation this year, has highlighted that more than 250 million old and broken electrical items have been prevented from entering landfill since 2005

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Irish Rail buying new bins designed to stop people rummaging for DRS containers

The semi-state company says the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has created an "issue" with people ransacking bins in search of returnable bottles and cans

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Irish beauty spot plagued by illegal dumping as shocking photos show extent of rubbish

In the first four months of 2024 environmental project Pure removed 60,000kg of illegally dumped waste, an increase compared to previous years

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The 3 golden rules of recycling that many Irish people ignore

A staggering 33 per cent of Irish people are unaware that just one contaminated container can compromise an entire recycling bin, according to a new study

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Government binned digital Re-turn option that would have kept household collections and saved €80m a year

The proposed scheme would have used a smartphone app, allowing consumers to recycle containers in their own domestic waste bins, as well as saving 20,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually

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One in five Re-turn cans and bottles still ending up in bins, waste firms say

Data from the Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA) shows that collection companies are handling significant volumes of Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) material

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Government faces questions on 'outrageous' lack of transparency around Re-turn scheme

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says the doors of the controversial recycling scheme must be 'flung open' to public scrutiny

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As Ireland marks a year of the controversial Re-Turn scheme, we ask: Is it working? Or is it a shambles?

Environmentalist John Gibbons says one billion bottles and cans being returned shows it's a success, while columnist Larissa Nolan says it's more drudge for hard-working families who were already recycling.

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Cannus horribilis: A look back at 12 months of controversy as Deposit Return Scheme turns one year old

One year after the launch of the "once-in-a-generation" recycling scheme, the Irish Mirror recalls 12 months of complaints and controversy that have marred its introduction

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Over 37 million vouchers printed by Re-turn machines on non-recyclable paper

Laid end-to-end, the vouchers used for the environmental scheme would span approximately 7,420km, stretching from Ireland to the middle of China

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