Councillors claim that a serious public health and safety situation is being caused as a direct result of the scheme
The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) that was launched to much fanfare on February 1, 2024 as a “once-in-a-generation” development that would herald “exciting benefits”
Dublin City Council is facing a “financial emergency” as a direct result of the national Deposit Return Scheme it is being claimed following the disclosure that it is costing the local authority €1 million in clean up costs.
Searching of public and private bins for returnable plastic bottles and cans to make money needs to be financially checked, councillors are warning.
An emergency motion is to be heard by the council at its monthly meeting on Monday night questioning how the local authority’s operations and finances are being impacted by abuse of the return scheme – each can or bottle is worth a minimum 15 cents if brought to designated disposal banks.
The Independent group of councillors are questioning the financial fall-out of the scheme due to chief executive Richard Shakespeare’s recent revelation that there is a €1 million annual deficit directly linked to it.
Re-turn machines for bottles and cans (Image: Gareth Chaney/Collins)
The group, led by former Lord Mayors of Dublin Niall Ring and Christy Burke are demanding that the council commissions “a comprehensive impact study and financial audit to determine the exact cost of street cleaning, bin maintenance, and pest control directly attributable to the unauthorised searching of public and private bins for returnable plastic bottles and cans”.
They want the study to specifically investigate the ‘Law of Unintended Consequences’ arising from the scheme.
Cllr Ring said that the chief executive needs to “formally engage with the Department of the Environment and the scheme operator, Re-turn, to seek full cost-recovery for these additional operational expenses, ensuring that the council does not continue to subsidise the national scheme through increased cleaning costs.”
He added: “What is happening represents an immediate and unbudgeted financial emergency that requires urgent oversight to prevent further loss of public funds.”
The councillors claim that a serious public health and safety situation is being caused as a direct result of the scheme.
“The practice of scavenging has created an unexpected and dangerous situation on our streets,” explained Cllr Burke.
“The systematic emptying of bins on footpaths creates immediate trip hazards and provides a significant food source for vermin and seagulls, which must be seen as a public health risk,” he noted
As the Council is currently considering retrofitting bins with new locking mechanisms to combat the issue, the Independent group of councillors believe “an immediate study” is required to ensure that such capital expenditure is “evidence-based and effective”.
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