SuperValu and Centra have invested €28m in reverse vending machines ahead of the launch of the deposit return scheme in Ireland next month.

Shoppers will now find the machines in 219 SuperValu stores and 321 Centra stores across Ireland.

Following a trial early last year, the retailers, which are both part of the Musgrave Group, noted a need for more than one machine in busy locations.

As a result, there are now a total of 667 reverse vending machines available to customers across the store network.

The deposit return scheme is set to commence from the beginning of next month.

When shoppers purchase a drink in a plastic bottle or an aluminium or steel can featuring the Re-turn logo from the start of February, they will now pay a small deposit in addition to the usual price of the drink.

When consumers return the empty, undamaged container to their local retail outlet, the deposit will be paid back in full. This does not have to be the store where the original drink was purchased.

The deposit fee is set to be 15c for containers from 150ml to 500ml and 25c for containers over 500ml and up to three litres.

The clean bottles and cans will be taken by newly installed reverse vending machines, with shoppers then receiving a voucher which can be redeemed for cash or used against the value of their shopping.

These vouchers do not have any expiry date and there is no limit on how many shoppers can collect or use at any time.

However, it must be spent in the same store where it was issued.

“By investing €28m in the installation of over 600 Reverse Vending Machines in every county in Ireland we hope to make returns as convenient as possible for everyone,” SuperValu and Centra managing director Ian Allen said.

"Investments in DRS [deposit return scheme] complement other environmental initiatives undertaken by retailers, such as installation of solar panels, the implementation of fridge doors for energy conservation, LED lighting, and efforts to reduce packaging,” he added.

SuperValu and Centra estimate that 90pc of all recyclable plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans will be returned.

The retailers anticipate that more than 320 million containers will be collected each year.

Reporting On: https:independent.ie