SuperValu and Centra recorded over 210 million container returns in one year

SuperValu and Centra recorded over 210 million container returns in over 550 stores nationwide since the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme 12 months ago - this is equivalent to enabling every citizen in Ireland to recycle 42 containers.

Some 703 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) have been installed in 560 SuperValu and Centra stores across the 26 counties in Ireland - empowering communities across Ireland to conveniently make returns and move towards more sustainable shopping habits.

Dublin, Cork, Meath, Galway and Kildare stores have received the largest volume of returns to Reverse Vending Machines across the SuperValu and Centra store network.

Luke Hanlon, managing director of SuperValu and Centra said: “We are pleased that as a community retailer with the largest offering of Reverse Vending Machines across every county in Ireland that SuperValu and Centra have enabled the equivalent of every citizen in Ireland being able to make a positive recycling impact. Over the course of the last 12 months, a remarkable 210 million containers have been returned via our RVM machines which has led to a reduction in litter locally and enabled Ireland’s transition to a circular economy. This milestone is a testament to our customers who have made recycling containers a natural part of their grocery shopping routine – they see the benefits to them and the planet and have been supportive of the initiative.”

“I would also like to thank our network of dedicated retailers who through investment and innovation have enabled a broader shift to sustainability. This is in line with our ‘Local Action Global Impact’ initiative, showing that small, community-based efforts can contribute to the broader fight against environmental challenges”

Under the Deposit Return Scheme PET bottles can be recycled up to seven times and aluminum cans have no recycling limit. The containers are collected from SuperValu and Centra stores at the end of each week and brought to a recycling facility in Limerick. They are then sorted by material and color, while any waste that enters the system is removed.

SuperValu and Centra invested €28 million in Reverse Vending Machines across their store networks nationwide, as part of their continued focus to build more sustainable communities.

According to SuperValu and Centra, consumer behaviour indicates strong adoption of the scheme with Saturdays being the busiest period for recycling in SuperValu stores due to customers doing their ‘big shop’, with consumers bringing higher volume of returns at once, averaging 23 containers per visit. Centra customers tend to recycle a smaller number of containers but make more regular trips to stores to return containers.

The ALDI chain has announced the introduction of a new DRS Savings Card which will allow customers to use their DRS vouchers received when they return empty bottles and cans to load funds onto an ALDI Savings Card. This news comes as ALDI announces an additional investment in enhancing and expanding the DRS scheme across its 163 stores nationwide.