The new recycling system

It's a blocking clause that will unfairly disrupt EU trade and could be seen as protectionist of Irish suppliers. We not talking cars here with left and right hand drive options etc. We're talking basic drink stuffs.

@bren2001 FWIW, I am not anti-green or anti-recycling, very much the opposite.

Re-turn plan to process up to 35,000 tonnes of waste, this plant needs only 15,000 tonnes to be viable. They have been in planning for 3 years, am sure the EU directive was signposting longer than that, and we have plastic recycling here for over 2 decades; really there is no excuse for the plant not to be there by now, never mind not yet even at the tender stage.

(To be totally fair, it may not be re-turn who is responsible for delivering a plant, but certainly the state is responsible for both re-turn and the new plant, maybe my criticism should be directed at the government. )

The government are imposing change on everyone else and telling us all about a 'circular' economy, but not delivering on their piece.

I'm not against recycling or any positive change. I'm pro common sense.

We, the consumer, are essentially paying for this whole system – both financially (unclaimed deposits) and through the additional time and effort needed (collecting and returning items).

I expect that the amount of material intended for recycling in Ireland to be around the same. It’s just that a subset of the material will take a different path.

The existing recycling system is clearly not good enough (otherwise this scheme would not be needed). Remember that Joe Duffy listener last year that could track his recycling to the incinerator?

Anyways, this is us all about us meeting EU recycling targets. If they have it in Germany, sure we have to have it here. 🤨

Meanwhile, the body behind all this hasn't secured a plant in the state to handle it all, and will presumably be exporting our waste until it does. Slightly undermines the green values if the waste has to be exported and the reimported in order to be 'circular'.

Exported, burnt, landfilled, hid behind the couch.

It doesn't matter as long as it is collected.

For the environment, innit?

And thats not against EU law which you're trying to claim it is.

No, they probably won't be bothered with the extra paperwork. The actual cost is so small per bottle, its irrelevant.

The weather over the last few years has been far from normal

The conclusion in the consultation document is that there is no data to suggest that we can meet the target the current method.

houses having 5 bins is a lot. I’d prefer to chuck them in the RVM when I go to Aldi anyway.

I don't think this would be practical and can't imagine it being worth the hassle for the bin company if it were practical. How much would you be willing to pay for such a service?

So are you saying there is a doubt the new scheme will be successful? That's nearly like a housing developer defending the decision not to build a sewage treatment system until there is certainty around how much sewage the residents will produce.

As the great Roy Keane might say "all credit to positive PR" but sometimes even the most ardent of supporter might accept there are weaknesses to be found in even the seemingly most perfect initiative

It just seems messier than collecting glass.

Say for example Thorntons collect your bin of recyclables. Empty it into a hopper. Hopper spits out some damaged bottles/cans. Where do they go?

Then the way the scheme is set up, Thorntons have to return yours and everyone else's empties to Re-turn to obtain the deposit. Then have to credit it back to you and your neighbours etc.

And while I agree that some people won't be bothered doing another chore there doesn't seem to be a practical way around it other than foregoing the deposit.

There isn’t 100% certainty this scheme will work. Of course there isn’t.

That is some severe tune change.

The probability isn’t 1. That would be impossible.

Theres zero doubt in my mind and zero data to backup the argument it won’t work. Is the probability 1? No.

Theres zero change of tune.

How could anyone know if it will be a success or failure since the powers that be decided a trial was below them.

I personally think the whole thing is bonkers and, after lengthy discussions here, nothing more than a bean counting exercise with regular people yet again carrying the burden to satisfy some bs directive.

Because there’s sufficient evidence from other schemes not to do one.

I don’t know how you would even structure a trial for this.