Can Glass Bottles Go in Re-turn? No - Here Is What To Do

No. Re-turn takes eligible plastic bottles and cans, not glass bottles or jars. Glass has no Re-turn deposit refund and should not go in your household green bin - use a bottle bank, recycling centre or GlassBag doorstep collection instead.

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Use Re-turn for Cans and Plastic. Use GlassBag for Glass.

If your glass bottles and jars are building up at home, GlassBag can collect them from your doorstep across Dublin, North Wicklow, North Kildare and South Meath. Plans start from €7.99/month, with monthly and once-off options also available.

All Dublin postcodes North Wicklow North Kildare South Meath
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Use the Eircode checker on this page for route coverage, then choose annual, monthly or once-off collection.

Glass Is Not Part of Re-turn or the Green Bin

You cannot return glass bottles for a deposit refund at Re-turn machines, and glass should not go in your household recycling bin. Glass must be recycled separately at a bottle bank, recycling centre, or through a doorstep collection service like GlassBag.

Official guidance checked against Re-turn consumer guidance, which lists glass drinks containers as not included, and MyWaste glass bottle and jar guidance.

Does Re-turn accept glass bottles?

No. Wine bottles, beer bottles, spirit bottles and food jars are glass, so they have no Re-turn deposit refund.

What containers are included in the DRS?

PET plastic bottles and aluminium or steel cans from 150ml to 3 litres are included when they carry the Re-turn mark.

What Is the Deposit Return Scheme?

Ireland's Deposit Return Scheme, operated by Re-turn, launched on 1 February 2024. When you buy a drink in a plastic bottle or aluminium/steel can, a deposit of 15 cent (up to 500ml) or 25 cent (over 500ml to 3 litres) is added to the price. You get the deposit back when you return the empty container to a reverse vending machine (RVM) or participating retailer.

What the DRS Covers

  • PET plastic bottles (water, soft drinks, juice) between 150ml and 3 litres
  • Aluminium and steel cans (beer, soft drinks, energy drinks) between 150ml and 3 litres
  • Containers must display the Re-turn logo and have a readable barcode

What the DRS Does NOT Cover

  • Glass bottles and jars — wine bottles, beer bottles, spirit bottles, food jars
  • Dairy containers — milk bottles, yoghurt drink bottles
  • Containers without the Re-turn logo
  • Household glass in the green bin — glass should stay out of kerbside mixed recycling

Why Is Glass Excluded from the DRS?

Re-turn explains that glass is excluded because Ireland already has a glass recycling rate of over 80% and is surpassing recycling targets for this material. Because the existing bottle bank network already performs well for glass, the Deposit Return Scheme focuses on PET plastic bottles and aluminium or steel cans.

The bottle bank system — combined with doorstep collection services like GlassBag — is working well for glass. The DRS was designed to boost recycling rates for plastic bottles and cans, which had lower recycling rates before the scheme launched.

So How Do I Recycle Glass Bottles and Jars?

Since glass isn't part of the DRS and can't go in your household recycling bin, you have two main options:

  • Bottle banks — Free to use, located at supermarket car parks, parks and recycling centres across Ireland. You need to drive there and sort glass by colour (clear, green, brown).
  • GlassBag doorstep collection — We collect glass bottles and jars from your door on a monthly schedule. No driving, no sorting, no queuing. Plans from €7.99/month.

For more on what types of glass we accept, see our guide to recyclable glass.

Can Glass Go in the Recycling Bin in Ireland?

No. Glass bottles and jars should not go in your household mixed recycling bin in Ireland. They can break during collection, contaminate other recyclables and create handling risks. Keep glass separate and use a bottle bank, recycling centre or GlassBag collection.

If Re-turn Will Not Take Glass, What Is the Easiest Option?

Glass still needs a separate recycling route. Bottle banks work, but GlassBag removes the glass trip for households in our service area.

Using a bottle bank

  • Store glass at home until you can make a trip.
  • Load heavy bottles and jars into the car.
  • Sort by clear, green and brown where banks require it.
  • Risk arriving when the bank is busy or overflowing.

Using GlassBag

  • Glass bottles and jars collected from your doorstep.
  • No colour sorting needed for GlassBag collection.
  • Text reminders before your scheduled collection.
  • Plans from €7.99/month or €15 once-off.
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Re-turn vs GlassBag: What Each Service Handles

Re-turn (Deposit Return Scheme)

  • PET plastic bottles (with Re-turn logo)
  • Aluminium & steel cans (with Re-turn logo)
  • Return at reverse vending machines
  • Get 15c or 25c deposit back per container
  • Does NOT accept glass

GlassBag (Doorstep Collection)

  • All glass bottles — wine, beer, spirits
  • All glass jars — food, sauce, jam, candle
  • Broken glass accepted
  • No colour sorting needed
  • Collected from your door monthly

The Convenient Way to Recycle Glass

Use Re-turn for your plastic bottles and cans. Use GlassBag for all your glass bottles and jars. Together, they cover everything — no bottle bank trips needed.

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How GlassBag Works

1

Choose Your Plan

Annual (€7.99/mo), Monthly (€9.99/mo) or Once-Off (€15).

2

Fill Your Bag

Collect glass bottles and jars at home. Your sturdy reusable GlassBag is delivered on your first collection.

3

We Collect & Recycle

Put it out on collection day. We pick up, recycle and return your bag.

Plans & Pricing

Annual

€7.99 / month

Billed €95.88/year. Save 20%.

Monthly

€9.99 / month

Flexible. Cancel anytime.

Once-Off

€15 / collection

No subscription needed.

Choose Your Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Deposit Return Scheme include glass bottles?

No. Ireland's Deposit Return Scheme (Re-turn) covers PET plastic bottles and aluminium/steel cans only. Glass bottles and jars are not included and cannot be returned for a deposit refund.

Why is glass not in the DRS in Ireland?

Ireland already recycles over 80% of its glass packaging, exceeding both the EU 2025 and 2030 targets. Because the existing bottle bank network achieves high glass recycling rates, there was no urgent need to include glass in the deposit scheme.

Can I return wine bottles under the DRS?

No. Wine bottles are glass and are not covered by the Deposit Return Scheme. You can recycle wine bottles at a bottle bank or through GlassBag's doorstep collection service.

How do I recycle glass bottles in Ireland?

Glass must be recycled at bottle banks (free, located across the country), recycling centres, or through a doorstep collection service. GlassBag collects glass from your door across all Dublin postcodes, North Wicklow, North Kildare and South Meath from €7.99/month.

What is the difference between Re-turn and GlassBag?

Re-turn handles plastic bottles and cans — you get a deposit refund when you return them. GlassBag handles glass bottles and jars — we collect them from your doorstep monthly. The two services are complementary: use Re-turn for plastic and cans, GlassBag for glass.

Can I put glass in my recycling bin instead?

No. In Ireland, glass cannot go in your household kerbside recycling bin. It must be brought to a bottle bank or collected through a service like GlassBag.

Can glass bottles go in Re-turn machines?

No. Re-turn machines accept eligible plastic bottles and cans only. Glass bottles, wine bottles, beer bottles and food jars are not accepted by Re-turn and need separate glass recycling.

Recycle Your Glass the Easy Way

Use Re-turn for plastic and cans. Use GlassBag for all your glass. No bottle bank trips needed.

Get Started — From €7.99/month