In the year since the Deposit Return Scheme was introduced, €54 million worth of plastic bottles and cans have been unclaimed.
However, the unclaimed money isn’t kept by shops or supermarkets – it’s used to help pay for the running of the machines and for advertising campaigns to promote the scheme.
The scheme has collected a total of €200 million in the past year through deposits of 15 cent and 25 cent on cans and bottles paid by shoppers.
73% of containers were returned last year, according to the Irish Daily Mail.
