One way to reduce bottled water (and other bottled drinks) and the plastic waste they cause, are return schemes. Ireland just introduced one. The Guardian reports about the experience so far.
After initial consumer confusion and irritation, Ireland’s first ever bottle deposit return scheme has finally been embraced by the public, with 111m containers returned in August – up from 2m in February when the scheme launched – new data shows. Re-turn, which was mandated by the Irish government, to implement the scheme as part of a bid to meet EU 90% recycling targets, said that in the eight months since February, 630m containers have been deposited at reverse vending machines up and down the country.
In what is the biggest behavioural shift since the plastic bag tax was introduced in 2001, returns have rocketed from 2m a month to 110m a month, according to the latest figures. The scheme has also reduced litter on streets, raised money for charity and even helped homeless people and children raise small quantities of cash.
