Here’s a summary of what’s known so far about the effects of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS, “Re-turn”) on recycling and litter — things that are already shown, what looks promising, and what challenges remain. If you like, I can also look at academic assessments (journals etc.) for more rigorous studies.
What is the scheme
Launched 1 February 2024.
Applies to plastic drink bottles and aluminium/steel cans with a “Re-turn” logo. Consumers pay a small deposit (15c for containers up to 500ml; 25c for over 500ml up to 3L) which is refunded when the empty
What impacts have been observed so far
Here’s what the data over the first ~1–1.5 years tells us:
Metric Before / Early After (so far) Change / Effect
Recycling rate for plastic bottles & aluminium/steel cans ~ 49% (just before scheme) ~ 91% as of mid-2025 Large increase; scheme is capturing ~76% of containers directly via DRS and remainder via mixed (dry) recycling.
Number of containers returned — Over 1.6 billion bottles & cans returned since launch (as of ~mid-2025) Very large participation in absolute terms.
Litter reduction (bottles & cans items) — ~ 50% fewer bottles & cans being littered, according to IBAL (Irish Business Against Litter) surveys.
Marine litter / beaches Historically higher levels of bottles and cans. Lowest levels of bottle/can litter on Irish shores in 25 years, per Coastwatch.
Public participation — ~ 84% participation rate in the scheme by public (people using it) after ~1 year.
What seems promising / positive
Behavioural change: The financial incentive seems to be working — people are returning containers, the volume is high, the public is engaging.
Recycling quality: Because containers are returned separately (through DRS) rather than being mixed in with general recycling bins, the quality of material being recycled is higher — less contamination, more usable material.
Litter type specificity: There is particularly strong improvement in reduction of bottles & cans litter — those are exactly what the scheme targets. So it is succeeding in that domain.
Awareness & infrastructure rollout: There are a large number of return points / reverse vending machines, and community / charity organisations are using the scheme for fundraising etc., which helps cement behaviour.
Overall assessment
On balance, early evidence suggests that Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme is having a significant positive impact on both recycling rates and reducing litter from bottles & cans. It appears to be working well in its first year (or so), exceeding some expectations:
Recycling rates for the covered containers jumped dramatically;
Litter in those categories has dropped substantially;
Public participation is strong.