Customers warned bin charges to rise as bottle return scheme hits waste firm profits

Companies used to sell high-value waste before the Deposit Return Scheme started in February

Bottles and cans deposit refund scheme means green bin charges ‘must rise’, waste firms warn

Caroline O'Doherty

Waste collection companies have warned they may increase prices for recycling bin collections to make up for the loss of plastic bottles and drinks cans to the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).

They say the bottles and cans are the most valuable items in household green bins and they are losing millions of euro in sales of these to manufacturers since the DRS began.