Re-turn has issued holiday tips as Irish consumers head into their first holiday season with the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).
As part of its tips, the organisation is predicting the best days to return plastic bottles and cans after Christmas, as well as the busiest days to avoid.
Some three quarters (76%) of the public bring back their drinks containers whilst grocery shopping, so the busiest days for returning bottles and cans are typically weekends between 10am and 12pm.
With both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on a Wednesday, the weekend grocery trip is likely to continue over the holiday period,
Saturday 28 December could see a surge in consumers returning their plastic bottles and cans as they head out shopping to restock the fridge.
Thursday 26 and Friday 27 December are likely to be the quietest days for returns and perfect for avoiding queues.
Dos And Don’ts
To help make Christmas 2024 Ireland’s most sustainable yet, Re-turn has compiled a list of Dos and Don’ts.
- Do set up a designated Re-turn bin where guests and family members can dispose of containers, ensuring everything is collected in one spot to avoid sorting later. You can even make it festive.
- Do let a member of staff know if – when returning containers – the reverse vending machine (RVM) is not working. The bin might be full and staff can empty it and help you be on your merry way.
- Do ensure you clear plastic bottles and cans of any liquids before returning them to your RVM.
- Don’t crush or squash cans or bottles, as RVMs and Manual Return Points need to be able to read and scan the container’s barcode and check the Re-turn symbol.
- Do donated containers to a local charity or community initiative if you can’t find the time to visit an RVM during the holidays.
- Do involve the full household in tracking returns. After all, what’s Christmas without some healthy family competition?
Re-turn has created an FAQ page for any questions from consumers, retailers and producers, and it is encouraging everyone to reach out to [email protected] for any further queries.
Read More: TOMRA’s New Reverse Vending Machine Allows Multiple Returns At Once
