Is Glass in the Deposit Return Scheme in Ireland?

If you are wondering is glass in the deposit return scheme in Ireland, the short answer is no. The national Re-turn scheme only accepts PET plastic beverage bottles and aluminium or steel cans that feature the official Re-turn logo. Glass bottles and jars are completely excluded from this system. You will not pay a deposit on glass items at the supermarket checkout, and the reverse vending machines will not accept them.

Instead, you still need to recycle your empty wine bottles, jam jars, and beer bottles through traditional methods. This means using local bottle banks, visiting a civic amenity site, or signing up for a dedicated kerbside collection service.

Understanding Ireland's Deposit Return Scheme

The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) was introduced to boost recycling rates for specific single-use drinks containers. By placing a small financial value on the container, the scheme encourages people to bring them back rather than tossing them in the general waste bin or littering our streets and countryside.

When you buy a drink in a plastic bottle or metal can with the Re-turn logo, you pay a small deposit. Once you finish the drink, you return the empty, undamaged container to a reverse vending machine found in most supermarkets and convenience stores. The machine reads the barcode and issues a voucher that you can use against your shopping or exchange for cash at the till.

This system is highly effective for lightweight materials like plastic and aluminium. However, it operates entirely separately from how we process glass waste in Ireland.

How to Manage Your Household Glass Recycling

Because glass is not included in the DRS, managing it remains the responsibility of the household. Recycling glass is one of the most effective ways to reduce household waste. Because glass melts at a lower temperature when it is recycled compared to making it from raw materials like sand and limestone, the process saves a massive amount of energy. It also reduces carbon emissions and keeps perfectly good materials out of landfill. To keep this cycle going, you have a few main options for disposing of your household glass.

Local Bottle Banks

Bring banks are the most common way Irish households recycle glass. You will find these banks in supermarket car parks, beside community centres, and in dedicated recycling areas across the country. When using a bottle bank, you must separate your glass by colour: clear, green, and brown. This colour separation is vital because mixed glass cannot be easily recycled back into clear glass.

While bottle banks are widespread, they come with frustrations. Hauling heavy bags or boxes of clinking bottles in the boot of your car is inconvenient. The banks can sometimes be full after a busy weekend, leaving you with no choice but to bring the glass home again. There is also the risk of broken glass around the bins, which is a hazard for car tyres and footwear.

Civic Amenity Sites

Larger recycling centres, often run by the local council, accept glass alongside other bulky waste, electronics, and green waste. These sites are useful if you are doing a massive clear-out after a party or a deep spring clean. You will need to check your local council website for opening hours and any vehicle restrictions before you travel. Some sites charge an entry fee for general waste, though bringing only recyclable glass is usually free. Still, the time and fuel spent driving to the centre can add up.

Doorstep Glass Collection

For maximum convenience, a dedicated collection service removes the hassle entirely. GlassBag collects household glass recycling directly from the doorstep across Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare, Meath, and nearby areas. You simply place your empty bottles and jars in the provided bag, and we take them away. This eliminates the need to load up the car, drive to the bottle bank, and stand in the rain sorting bottles by colour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are glass bottles part of the Re-turn scheme?

No. Glass bottles are not part of the Re-turn scheme. The reverse vending machines located in shops and supermarkets are designed specifically for plastic bottles and metal cans. They will not accept glass. If you attempt to put a glass bottle into one of these machines, the barcode scanner will reject it, and the machine will not crush or process the item. You must continue to recycle your glass separately. You can read more about how we handle deposit return scheme glass alternatives to keep your household recycling simple.

Why is glass not in the DRS in Ireland?

Ireland already has a highly successful and established glass recycling infrastructure through the existing network of bottle banks. We currently recycle a massive portion of our glass packaging, meeting European targets without needing a deposit system.

Furthermore, introducing glass into the reverse vending machines would create significant logistical and safety challenges. Glass is heavy and breaks easily. Machines would need to be much larger and heavily reinforced to safely crush and store glass shards without posing a risk to retail staff or the public. Keeping glass separate ensures the current system remains efficient and prevents unnecessary complexity in the new plastic and can scheme.

Other European countries that include glass in their deposit schemes often use refillable glass bottles, which are collected, washed, and reused by the beverage companies. Ireland's market is currently built around single-use glass that is crushed and melted down. Transitioning to a refillable system would require a massive overhaul of how drinks are manufactured and distributed across the country.

Do you get money back on glass bottles?

No, you do not get money back on glass bottles in Ireland. Because they are excluded from the Re-turn scheme, no deposit is added to the purchase price at the till. Consequently, no refund or voucher is issued when you recycle them. The recycling of glass relies on the environmental goodwill of households and the convenience of local recycling facilities or collection services.

Not sure which bin glass actually goes in? Read our plain-English guide on what bin glass goes in for Irish households.

A Simpler Way to Recycle Your Glass

Dealing with empty bottles and jars does not have to be a chore. If you are tired of storing heavy boxes of glass in your kitchen or garage, and dread the inevitable trip to the local bring bank, there is a better way.

GlassBag provides a reliable, regular collection service that takes the effort out of glass recycling. We serve homes across Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare, Meath, and nearby areas, ensuring your glass is collected safely and recycled properly. You keep your car boot clean, save time, and never have to worry about overflowing bottle banks again.

Ready to make your household recycling effortless? Check out our pricing page to see our collection plans and get started today.