195
Consumers embrace Ireland’s first bottle deposit return scheme | Recycling | The Guardian
(www.theguardian.com)
what took them so long tho
this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2024
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We literally had actual bottle recycling schemes back in the old days when we had people delivering milk and other dairy products.
But that didn't fit into big corporations "profiteering-at-all-costs" plans, so they started selling the stuff in plastic.
...yyyeees, but I was also a lot cheaper and used a lot less fuel because the plastic was far lighter to carry around than glass.
How that balances out, no idea, sorry... I'm hoping it was better but may have been due to plastic subsidies or something equally evil
was also a lot cheaper
That's what they told me when I was a kid - and now I live in a country where 20% of the population can't even afford milk. So I have to ask - cheaper for whom?
been due to plastic subsidies or something equally evil
Don't know, but it sure did allow the big supermarket chains to monopolize the dairy supply business.
Wait what… Are you saying that Ireland didn’t have a bottle returning system before? What happened to all the bottles and cans before that? Did you just throw all of that in the trash?
No we recycled them and recycle rates were really high. They just went in the green wheelie bin and were picked up every week or two.
I would be fine with the deposit scheme but the plastic bottles and aluminium cans all need to be in perfect condition / no squashing them down so they quickly start taking up a lot of space in our (busy) house then need a trip to the store followed by putting them in a scanning machine one by one where before we could just squish them and pop them in the green bin.
I'm not doing any more recycling but now I have a lot more effort unfortunately.
Also no glass in the scheme.
I'm honestly not a fan as someone who was recycling everything already.
Honestly, it's just made me buy less pointless soda and fuzzy water, just because it's a pain to deal with.
Good outcome I think
Ah, well at least there's now an incentive for someone to pick up any cans and plastic bottles left lying around outside. Some people in my town eke out a living off other people's carelessness.
As long as they're not squashed!
Whenever I'm in a country without a cash deposit system on bottles and cans, I see so many of them just being thrown on the ground everywhere. It's worst outside of city centers where there is no regular clean up.
Yeah, with cash deposit the homeless cleans it up.
Or people just don't want to throw away their own money.
Can we abolish the word "consumers" please?
"Parts of the society" fits it better
'I think 'the term Consumers' generally makes it more clear which aspect of the society we're discussing. The organizations running bottle returns aren't typically excited about the idea.
I'm actually more offended by their use of "scheme" which can carry a negative connotation in some places, as well as "reverse vending machine" which... just... no thank you
Puke in, money out
In the UK, "scheme" doesn't seem to have that "plotting a heist" connotation it does in, say, the US. People often have a "pension scheme" for instance.
Hah yeah, my edit earlier was to add the "in some places" part. I selfishly meant the US
But then how can we refer to ourselves as a third-person locust that only has a purpose, job, and duty to spend our "infinite" wealth in a never-ending capitalist scheme of profit to assist our betters in buying a fifth yacht?
idgi… So it’s just a way that makes it easier for bottles to be recycled?
Imma be honest, I can barely stay on top of emptying my bin at home, the chances of me having the time and energy to do this are non existent.
Sure, throw them away. But you also won't get back your
€0.15 (12p) per can and €0.25 per plastic bottle
you pay on top for every beverage (canned or in plastic).
Here we are doing it for so long, I don't remember when we introduced this system and I can say:
- Trash on the streets reduced by a whole lot
- It just became a part of our shopping routine.
I'm pretty sure, you will find the necessary energy and time.
Brother, even with the best intentions, I will not find the energy and time. It just won’t happen.
More ADHD tax ☹️
I guess with most things ADHD, it happens if you are convinced that the task is important and worthwhile, and build it into routine instead of something that is 'remembered' or forced on you as an 'adhd tax'. Positive self talk and mindset are tenants of ADHD habit building.
Maybe reading up on the good it does might help you find value to the task
I prioritise trying to keep myself clean, healthy, and not overwhelming myself. I already fail at all of those things.
If I tried to do this I’d probably manage it for a month, then end up with a collection of cans and bottles in the corner of a room, acting as a constant reminder of how I’m a failure.
I understand the good it does, I’d like to contribute, but that doesn’t change how my brain works.
If it makes you feel better, a good chunk of the population let's dishes pile, don't take their bottles in, put off chores, etc. until it moves over to that urgent column! My neighbor doesn't take in his bottles until it's 6 bags deep, but he's fortunate to have a huge storage space to keep them out of sight
"Just do what you're supposed to!"
Like, yeah, that's my whole problem. I do what I'm supposed to but it's completely independent of what I have scheduled or prioritized. Maybe it means my medication needs to be kicked up a couple doses. Or maybe it means I need people to be happy I got anything I needed to get done, done.
Do you sometimes or occasionally go to a store? If yes then great. Simple deposit the empty bottle into the bag you take to the store and you're dandy!
That is a simple trick only millions of people are performing every day
Let my ADHD ass introduce you to my bucket of used batteries, and my giant bag of "soft plastics", both of which require a trip to the store (5 minute walk away) to recycle.
Hey, but at least you got them in a bucket dude, good for you.
People without ADHD cannot physically experience the difficulty in doing what isn't directly occupying our mind. Anything we accomplish should be celebrated.
Thanks! Yeah, I honestly don't hold it against anyone for not understanding or appreciating ADHD. I don't understand it myself most of the time. And before a psychiatrist told me I had it, I didn't realize how it totally and completely ruled some parts of my life.
Some of the batteries in that bucket must be 10+ years old. The bucket has even moved house with me. Definitely a fire hazard. I go and get groceries every other day, but in 10 years I've never remembered to take them. And even when I do remember, I go "I'll do it next time"!
The problem is the previous alternative was popping them in the green bin which our household was already doing. We are doing no more recycling but it's now a lot of space consumption (squashed bottles or cans are rejected) and more hassle.
The ADHD leaving my body when someone says to “simply do it”
Thank you, your patronising suggestion is very helpful and has addressed all my problems. I don’t know why I didn’t think about just doing stuff simply before 🙄