A CO Donegal conservation group is urging people in the county to get behind a campaign to bring back deposit returned lemonade bottles.
It follows a promise from the Government to tackle Ireland’s mounting waste problems.
In the Netherlands, the government charges a 25c deposit on all PET bottles which has resulted in a 95% return.
In Sweden, they have an 84% return for their PET bottles and Finland boasts a 92% return for PET bottles as a result of their deposit/refund system.
The rate or recycling here is just 37%.
“Many people over the age of 40 will remember bringing empty lemonade bottles back to the shop to get a few pennies,” said a Gweebarra Conservation Group spokesperson.
“As the government prepares a new recycling policy environmental groups are urging them to introduce a deposit/return clause for cans and bottles. Please email minister@environ.ie and tell him to introduce this scheme. It would mean a vast reduction in roadside litter,” he added.