More than 900 million plastic bottles and cans have been returned since the Deposit Return Scheme was launched last year, operator Re-turn said today.
Re-turn said that in December, over five million plastic bottle and can returns were recorded on a number of occasions during the month.
The Re-turn network of deposit return points also increased by more than 800 since its launch and there are now over 2,600 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) around the country.
There are now also over 470 manual return points nationwide.
Through the Deposit Return Scheme, aluminium cans can be recycled infinitely while PET plastic bottles can be recycled multiple times, reducing the need for the use of virgin materials.
Re-turn said that by returning drinks containers, consumers are contributing to a sustainable future and guaranteeing that materials are recycled into new drinks containers.
Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn, said the achievement of nearly one billion plastic bottles and cans returned is testament to the growing support of the Irish people.
"The early impact is undeniable - recent research from IBAL shows almost a 50% reduction in plastic bottle and can litter on Irish streets already. Additionally, over 2,000 local initiatives have been launched to raise funds for clubs and charities, making a tangible and positive difference in communities nationwide," Mr Foley said.
"This 900 million milestone is a fantastic achievement and a sign of even greater things to come," he added.
