A county council has formally written to the minister with responsibility for the deposit return scheme, questioning the merits of the “money-making racket” that it says does nothing to increase recycling rates.
The scathing correspondence was issued by Cavan County Council following a motion by its elected members, who said the scheme was “a tax revenue stream” that had no impact on the environment.
It referred to the scheme as a “money-making racket”, claiming that €1 million a day was being collected while consumers continue paying to recycle plastics through their household waste service.
The letter was sent by the council executive after elected members had passed a motion directing it to write to Minister Ossian Smyth, “seeking clarification on the merits of the scheme”.
READ MORE: Minister in charge of deposit return scheme admits he doesn’t know Re-turn CEO’s salary
READ MORE: Islanders having to bring cans and bottles to mainland by boat to reclaim Re-turn deposit
The correspondence from the local authority is the latest volley of criticism directed at the embattled deposit return scheme, which has already generated complaints from TDs, disability groups, retailers, and members of the public.
“At a recent meeting of Cavan County Council, the elected members discussed the deposit return scheme introduced by the Government, noting that the scheme is a tax revenue stream while doing nothing to increase recycling rates,” the letter said.
“The member proposing the motion noted that people see the scheme as a money-making racket, €1 million a day is being collected while consumers on the ground are complaining that they are already paying for recycling plastics in the household green bin.
“The members noted that the problem is with the increased price rise on bottles, not the refund system. The members proposed that I write to you as minister of state at the Department of Public Expenditure asking for clarification on the merits of the scheme,” it added.
Earlier this week, the Irish Mirror revealed that a community organisation on one of the Aran Islands had written to the minister to complain that they were having to bring cans and bottles to the mainland on a boat in order to reclaim their deposits due to the absence of a collection point on the island.
The Irish Petrol Retailers Association (IPRA) has also complained that the scheme is causing chaos for shop owners, claiming that it has been designed to “hit smaller independent retailers the most”.
The body has also lodged a complaint with the European Commission, alleging that it breaches EU competition law by impeding retailers from importing bottles and cans from other European countries.
Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has also expressed concern over the lack of transparency surrounding Re-turn, describing the way the company was set up as “bizarre”.
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Source: County council questions Re-turn ‘money-making racket’ in letter to minister
