Re-Turn cans and Bottles - Takeaways using imports with no logos but still charging the re-turn fee

redstar · Tuesday at 4:17 PM

I just noticed this over the past few months.

My son is partial to getting takeaways from locally based establishments (Chinese/Asian) and usually gets drinks included.

There is a re-turn charge per can or bottle.

Anytime we recycled the containers some were rejected. After a while puzzling over this, we realised that the cans/bottles are from outside Ireland, usually Poland but some even from Nigeria! They have no re-turn logos.

Surely this can't be legal as they still charge the recycle fee.?

Persia · Tuesday at 4:21 PM

This solves a puzzle for me also. That makes sense now. Always a few coke cans that didn't have the return logo on them.

ClubMan · Tuesday at 4:52 PM

redstar said:
Surely this can't be legal as they still charge the recycle fee.?

It's not. They shouldn't be selling non-compliant cans/bottles at all.

Recycling Policy

Recycling Policy Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2024

www.oireachtas.ie

... from 1st June 2024 retailers can only sell drinks containers which include the Re-turn logo.

I presume that you could report such incidents as follows?

Should a retailer refuse to take-back or refund an empty container on which a deposit has been paid, Re-turn, the DRS operator, has advised that consumers should contact it by email at info@re-turn.ie or by phone at (LoCall) 1800 852 752.

balders93 · Tuesday at 5:14 PM

My local takeaway use northern soft drinks but they also don't charge return fees. I guess they're taking the approach of don't commit two crimes at once.

gipimann · Tuesday at 5:47 PM

My local Chinese is the same - the water bottles are from NI and not in Re-turn. I generally buy as part of a meal deal so there's no deposit specifically listed.

Monbretia · Tuesday at 6:36 PM

I buy 18 packs of Coca Cola in Homesavers, they don't have the return logo but don't charge for it either.

mathepac · Tuesday at 6:45 PM

"from 1st June 2024 retailers can only sell drinks containers which include the Re-turn logo"

Does this mean retailers can be prosecuted for selling products of questionable or non-EU origin?

JoeRoberts · Tuesday at 6:51 PM

But they dont appear in the Govt numbers so the stats will look good. Same can be said for other products regulated by tax where we have a different system in NI.

balders93 · Tuesday at 7:20 PM

mathepac said:
Does this mean retailers can be prosecuted for selling products of questionable or non-EU origin?

Yes, enforceable by the local council

S.I. No. 33/2024 - Separate Collection (Deposit Return Scheme) Regulations 2024

The electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) comprises the Acts of the Oireachtas (Parliament), Statutory Instruments, Legislation Directory, Constitution and a limited number of pre-1922 Acts.

www.irishstatutebook.ie

ENFORCEMENT
19. (1) Each local authority shall be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of these Regulations within their functional areas and shall appoint authorised persons to take such steps as are necessary for this purpose.

MrEarl · Tuesday at 7:39 PM

Hello,

There's useless, and then there's local councils

Does it really matter, if someone isn't charged, once they are sold a recyclable can or bottle and they subsequently recycle it ?

More importantly, if someone is being charged for a can or bottle that's not in the scheme, then it's clear fraud ! I'd report that to the Gardai, not the local council.

balders93 · Wednesday at 10:15 AM

MrEarl said:
Does it really matter, if someone isn't charged, once they are sold a recyclable can or bottle and they subsequently recycle it ?

Not to me, but I also wouldn't be going to the guards after being defrauded out of 15 cent!

Luternau · Wednesday at 11:08 AM

balders93 said:
wouldn't be going to the guards after being defrauded out of 15 cent!

Its not about the 15c...

It should not be a Garda matter. We need a robust trading standards type organisation for things like this. The local councils can barely cope with monitoring/enforcement of planning permission.

ClubMan · Wednesday at 11:49 AM

It definitely doesn't have to be a Garda matter. It can be reported to Re-Turn and/or the local authority.