Mayor says councils should benefit from excess return scheme funds

Unclaimed deposit return scheme funds should be returned to local authorities to develop anti-dumping and environmental projects, according to Athlone-Moate Municipal District Mayor, Cllr Vinny McCormack.

Cllr McCormack raised the issue at the monthly meeting of the Athlone-Moate Municipal District calling on his fellow elected members and executive to write to the Minister for the Environment in support of his motion.

"Since the scheme commenced in February 2024 some €66.7m has gone unclaimed in terms of deposits paid.

There is no doubt that the scheme has been broadly successful since its inception with two-thirds of all plastic bottles finding their way back into the return machines.

He went on to say that the Return company had recorded a pre-tax profit of €51.3m for its first 11 months in existence.

As Return was established as a "not for profit" company, the District Mayor said he is anxious that the surplus money does not "simply go back into central Government".

"I am calling on the Environment Minister to ensure this surplus is split amongst the Local Authorities and ringfenced for environmental and anti-dumping purposes.

The figures highlighted by Cllr McCormack were published in the Return 2024 annual report which also stated that approximately 877.85m containers were returned through the scheme, "made up of 433.2m plastic bottles and 44.6m cans".

"The figure of €66.7m in unredeemed deposits allied to €47.7m from sale of materials, and producers fees, resulted in recorded revenues of €114.4m for the newly established company," Cllr McCormack said.

Cllr McCormack emphasised that local authorities were "best placed" to administer schemes to tackle dumping, and a portion of this funding would go a long way towards increasing effectiveness.

"We have also sought the continued rollout of CCTV in littering blackspots, and greater litter enforcement capabilities from the council. This additional funding could have a really positive impact and support us in assisting our hard working tidy towns organisations, while we could also look at putting in place additional litter wardens to tackle enforcement and ensure those who damage our environment are fined heavily, and pay the price," Cllr McCormack concluded.

Elected members were unanimous in their support of the Mayor's suggestion with a letter to issue to Minister for the Environment in support of the Mayor's motion.