*Photograph: Páraic McMahon
€6.2k was spent on the installation of twelve bin surrounds in Ennis working out on an average of €518 per bin.
Re-turn, the company behind the deposit return scheme and Clare County Council combined on the installation of the bin surrounds.
According to Re-turn, the project was a co-funded on an equal basis by them and participating local authoriries but the spokesperson said the financial details regarding the costs involved were “commercially sensitive”.
A spokesperson for Clare County Council confirmed to The Clare Echo, “The cost of the project to the Council was €3,110.08 inclusive of VAT”.
With both parties then paying €3.110.08, the total figure for the bin surrounds is €6,221.60 meaning the average cost per bin was €518.46.
Bin surrounds “aims to make on-the-go- recycling visible and accessible while reducing litter and preserving valuable recyclable materials,” a spokesperson for Re-turn outlined.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) stated, “Our goal is to support the local community and businesses as we work together to foster a cleaner, more sustainable county town while advancing our commitment to lowering our carbon footprint and embracing the circular economy. This collaboration between Clare County Council and Re-turn is also another step forward in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The initiative has the potential to enhance recycling in public spaces and drive positive and meaningful change in how we manage valuable materials”.
Ciaran Hope, Chief Operating Officer of Re-turn, Ciaran Hope said: “We are very encouraged by the success of the bin surrounds initiative to date. From Dublin and Galway to Carlow, Navan and now Ennis, the public response has been extremely positive. With further rollouts planned in Cavan, Westmeath and SETU, this programme is playing a vital role in supporting cleaner streets, building stronger recycling habits, and creating a more sustainable future for Ireland”.
Research from Re-turn found that containers left on the bin surrounds were collected on average within sixteen minutes.
Established by the Government, Re-Turn went live with its Deposit Return Scheme operations on 1 February 2024 with the aim to significantly increase the recycling rates of bottles and cans.
In its annual report for 2024, the State-backed firm recorded pre-tax surplus of €51.3m with revenues of €114.4m. Its earnings included €66.7m in unredeemed deposits and €47.7m made up of €17.2m from the sale of material and €30.5m from ‘producer fees’. The annual report disclosed that the income from unredeemed deposits has resulted in a VAT settlement by Re-turn of €23.7m. The company’s 2024 costs totalled €62.2m made up of direct collection and recycling costs of €46.5m and administrative expenses of €15.7m which included a spend of €4.6m on ‘marketing, communications, and public awareness’.
