Following challenges with DRS implementation in Scotland, the smooth introduction and effective operation of the Irish system in its first year serve as a role model for other countries in the region, such as England and Wales, where DRS is expected to be implemented in the near future.
The DRS scheme in Ireland includes PET plastic bottles and aluminium cans ranging from 150ml to 3 litres. A deposit of 15 cents applies to containers between 150ml and 500ml, while a deposit of 25 cents applies to containers over 500ml up to 3 litres.
One of the cornerstones of the entire system is the IT solution provided by Sensoneo. Sensoneo’s end-to-end, ready-to-integrate software for DRS gathers data from all sources and enables seamless integration between all stakeholders within the process chain. The software is built on a cloud-based infrastructure and is compatible with any reverse vending machine.
An interesting aspect of the Irish DRS is the ongoing expansion to new collection points to bring recycling closer to people. These include airports, hospitals, prisons, stadiums, public events, government offices, large companies, corporations, and community collection points. Since Return for Children launched in June, drinks containers have been donated to the initiative at public events, raising €90,000 to date. Return for Children was created to support six national children’s charities, Barnardos Ireland, Barretstown, Childline by ISPCC, Jack and Jill, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, and Make-A-Wish Ireland. Collectively, these six charities support over 165,000 vulnerable and seriously ill children across Ireland.
