Deposit return scheme improvement ideas?

marathon2022

What if as part of this deposit return scheme there was an phone app that could scan the plastic bottle(or whatever) being returned and then your scan you green waste bin and just put it in? removing the need to transport the material back again to a location with a deposit scheme bin?

I'm only posting this here because I've probably not understood something that prevents this obvious addition.

Have you guys any other ideas?

Capt'n Midnight

Too open to fraud.

You can generate QR codes in Word or Excel. It's trivial to do without leaving traces on the internet.

And there's no way to confirm that a home scanned bottle actually goes into and stays in the green bin.

freshpopcorn

I'd like to be able to type in my Revolut/etc and be sent the money!

Jim_Hodge

Who refunds you the deposit?

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058338789/deposit-return-scheme-improvement-ideas

You mean my kids can scan the same 2l bottle of coke for several hours a day.

vafankillar

the best improvement would be to scrap it.

focus on other things like forcing producers to use less plastic instead of punishing the majority of people who already recycle their bottles/cans.

how about this food companies can only use the minimum/ or certain percentage less of plastic for their packaging? a huge amount of plastic on food products (especially confectionary) is solely to take up shelf space & make their product stand out.

ted1

who pays transaction fees?

TheChizler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121846966#Comment_121846966

Not perfect but if there was an effective spot checking system in place it would deter fraud, like in Tesco when you use the handheld scanners. People could rob from your bin though I guess.

Downlinz

The logical thing is removing cans from this scheme since plastic was the problematic material we weren't reaching targets on. Then it gives people a choice to avoid the cost/inconvenience of plastic drinks by using cans and continuing to recycle at home.

Currently it's a bizarre system that punishes the majority through cost or inconvenience who were recycling correctly at home in the hopes of changing behaviour of the minority who weren't.

elperello

I'd like to be able to use one of those bulk machines that was shown on the other thread.

You just pour in all your containers and the machine sorts them out.

Also I'd like it sited by the bottle banks so you could just drive up beside it.

Jeff2

I give all my stuff to someone else to put in the machine to get the refund as I can't get there but that would only make it look like it works so I'll just put mine in the green bin as I have done.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058338789/deposit-return-scheme-improvement-ideas

My best idea is to post in the already established thread discussing all that. https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058316674/deposit-return-scheme-recycling#latest

Jeff2

I'm sure someone could cut a say 2lt bottle down and put labels on all parts of it to get back more back than the charge they paid.

Or maybe not but it only a matter of time before someone comes up with a way to scam it.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121847130#Comment_121847130

Well I did think about printing off 2 lite barcodes and putting them on cans. Etc

Jeff2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121847212#Comment_121847212

That could actually work. Someone try it and report back.

greasepalm

Bigger bulk machines so bottles and cans can go in at once to be checked.

If there is a logo on item check instore ?

And a waste machine for bottles and cans before the scheme was thought of.

BorneTobyWilde

Machines that take full bag at a time like the rest of Europe, geez! One potato two potato ffs

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121847239#Comment_121847239

there’s a 4 month transition window. After that there will be no issue. My local Tesco put a bin beside the machine for items with no deposit. It’s not really a non issue

Staplor

Any shop selling a product with the charge MUST accept returns, simple.

My local Spar charges, but does not accept the bottle back.

ednwireland

a phone app that can pay the money I to your bank account so you don't have to go into the shop.

ELM327

I hate the scheme because every time I go up with a bag of cans all purchased after 1st feb, 60-70% are not accepted even though I paid a deposit. So I'm not bothered and all of it is continuing to go in the green bin as before.

Change it so everything is included by default, and so you can create an account and get the refund to it as opposed to paper.

Furze99

Very simple. Integrate it into the well established recycling bin collection scheme, that is paid for by us.

TheChizler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121847584#Comment_121847584

Or just refund to your card directly at the machine

Sam Russell

Have a donate to charity bin next to the return machine, and other places.

The deposit is real money, and many just chuck the empty bottes in the waste bin.

Millions of containers have been returned for deposit so far. It is working, but too early to tell how many containers are just being binned with unclaimed deposits.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122129270#Comment_122129270

Millions of containers were returned via domestic recycling bins every week. That was working too.

Sam Russell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122129388#Comment_122129388

That is true.

The purpose, as I understand it, is that the refund scheme is intended to return the container already sorted and presented at a higher value state than those fished out of a green bin, or worse, out of a black bin.

If more sorting of the green bin was done that might yield lower costs to the recyclers. For example, paper and cardboard separated, and plastic containers separated. Perhaps glass containers could be collected as well.

Of course, the ideal of recycling would be to refuse the product in the first place.

Sam Russell

Just on the above point, I saw a Swedish recycler issued different coloured bags to enable various items to be kept apart before the bag was placed in the green bin. So all plastic pots go in the yellow bag, all paper goes in the blue bag, etc.

It sounds like the next level.

Conall Cernach

Scrap the scheme and have can and plastic bottle recycling bins just like those for glass.

bk

Require online grocery delivery services like Tesco to take back the bottles (and give you a refund) on the next delivery.

It is mad that if you do your shopping via the most green manner of online grocery shopping, that you then later have to get in a car and drive the bottles to a supermarket to get your money back! How exactly is that green?

And what if you don't have a car or are elderly or disabled and that is why you use the online delivery service, how do these folks get the bottles to the supermarket and their money back?

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122135414#Comment_122135414

This was discussed a few times on the AH thread but no obvious solution was found.

The main reason taking returns was ruled out by Tesco and others was hygiene.

Returns may have been stored in a shed or utility room in less than clean conditions.

It would be unacceptable to place them in the delivery van with people's grocery orders.

The elderly infirm and disabled have a particular problem.

I did suggest that a limited number of returns might be accommodated in the cab. They could be sealed in a bag and tagged with the name and account number of the customer.

Of course this would mean extra work for the driver and someone would have to process the returns and credit accounts back at the store.

All of this would add to costs for the retailer which would have to be recouped in some way.

Personally I wouldn't worry too much about customers who drive. Most of them will find themselves passing an RVM location at some time during a normal week.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121847095#Comment_121847095

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121847244#Comment_121847244

Looks like we might get our wish.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/machines-can-accept-100-cans-32823413