Deposit return scheme (recycling) - Part 2

I was in and out of a few shops on Saturday, which was a warm enough day compared to what we've been getting lately. Didn't have to do any 'returning' thankfully but there was some stink coming from all the machines. I think if we ever do get a bit of a heatwave, hygiene will become a big issue with the machines.

So, just back from the local Spar. Once again the machine is inoperable. The guy behind the til says it's closed and I ask can he open it. He says "no. They have no bags". This is the fourth time since the scheme started that I have had go back home with a bag full of empties because the stupid machine was unusable.

It really is very difficult to imagine a more retarded attempt at implementing a scheme.

You'd want your head examined to be supporting this idiotic shite. It's not fit for purpose and needs to be scrapped.

BoardsBottler had a 200 euro voucher posted here IIRC. So probably well over 1000 containers if the majority were for a 15c deposit. Think they had some kind of pallet on wheels setup.

The pallet on wheels is a creative one. Others I have seen are a skip bag out of a van and an actual wheely bin out the back of a jeep.

After months of uneventful trips to the machines followed by serene shopping, I had one of those horrible experiences today at Aldi. They have two machines outside, and of course one was out of order. I was surprised to see that the usual queue of hundreds was not there. I soon found out the reason when I tried to put in my first bottle. A swarm of wasps emerged from the machine, and I had to beat a hasty retreat.

The wasps went on their merry way, so I tried again. I got the voucher, but when I was a few yards away heading into the shop the machine exploded. I mentioned the wasps to the assistant who was guarding the trolley with handle monstrosities inside (what is wrong with wire baskets, life is so difficult these days?). He said I was lucky it wasn't the locusts.

Did my shopping and presented the voucher along with one from a few days ago. The assistant said you have to use those within three days. When I queried this she drew a gun on me, saying Listen Pal I am from Rossiya, we know how to deal with troublemakers like you in my country. So I paid with cash. On the way back to the car, I noticed the locusts demolishing a nearby hedge.

Not been near a clean machine yet, they are absolutely filthy and stinking

Fighting wasps to return my cans is now at the top of the list for why this scam melts my brain... fun times. Made worse by the fact that my job now allows me access to see how many boats are currently sailing and how many planes are flying every day.... makes my efforts seem utterly pointless tbh.

I also would like to know how they're managing to recycle both aluminium and plastic seeing as they both go into the same bucket after getting crushed.

Re-turn aren't threatening to take money out of your bank account like the bin companies are.

No, they're taking your money at the tills, with you then having to work to get your own money back with your time and effort. At least the binman is working for you, not forcing you to work for them.

But our Minister said,

“One of the big learnings that we took away from our examination of theDeposit Return Schemes in other countries was that everyone in the DepositReturn Scheme chain has to be paid for their work.

https://www.checkout.ie/packaging-design/a-step-closer-to-the-circular-economy-198985

That's how a DRS works.

It's a deposit, you get it back.

They don't want your money, they want to reach their targets.

The friendly binmen are threatening to increase your charges to put pressure on the Government in their negotiations.

Yes I know that.

But it illustrates how temperamental the machines are.

A man walks into a pet shop and says "I'd like to by a wasp". The assistant says "We don't sell wasps". The man says "I saw one in your window yesterday".

Bit rich that.

You brought up binmen to defend Re-Turn not giving stats on unclaimed deposits.

Last two episodes of DRS machines I noticed a lot more rejects or having to insert several times before accepting the can. The most recent, of 38 attempted returns, 11 needed multiple attempts. This was also the case of the person at the machine before me.

Previous 6-7 weeks almost 100%. Is this a sign of machines needed a service?

I have noticed that some machines are more temperamental than others.

A quick check of the containers at home helps to avoid problems at the machine.

Please yourself.

not enough room in there with all dem wasps

Was in the city centre yesterday and brought a couple of bottles back to a supervalu and there was a person in front with a couple of bags, they had to stop every time they reached €10 and print the ticket and then continue. First time I seen that.

The most frustrating thing is putting in a bottle or can and machine rejects it, then you put in again facing a different way and it gets accepted. This is when there is nothing on barcode stopping it from being read. Such a pain.

So at least 1 in 4 items not going through the DRS…

I'ts the signe of a con.People get frustrated with the machines and dump the can/bottle into the trash chute.Another 15/25c for the return company.

Do the items in the green bin count towards the required EU target i.e. non Return recycling? When I looked into it before, it didn't seem to count.

Short answer: I don't know. I would imagine they must do, otherwise all the countries without a DRS, would have a score of 0.

Remember, the EU did not direct Ireland to implement a DRS. They are directing a recycling rate of x - how each country does it is up to them. It's our own government who decided the easiest way to do it was put it in the hands of a private company.

We have no idea what the stats actually are. There's a lot of fluffy wording in that piece