Lidl planning for Deposit Return Scheme facility at Dundalk store

Plans are underway for a new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) at the Lidl store at St Helena's Terrace in Dundalk.

Lidl Ireland GmbH has applied to Louth County Council for planning permission for modifications to the ground floor layout and shop facade of the store, that will include if granted, a single storey extension to front of the existing store to provide a DRS facility to allow customers to return plastic beverage bottles to a reverse vending machine in store.

The application also provides for the removal of the existing entrance/exit pod; the removal of the existing trolley bay; a proposed free standing trolley bay; proposed alteration works to the store elevation; alteration works to the car park area and  all ancillary works required to complete the required building regulations standards.

The Minister of State with responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth, launched Ireland’s national Deposit Return Scheme last Monday. It is estimated that about 1.9 billion drinks bottles and cans are consumed each year in Ireland, in-house and 'on the go'.

The Deposit Return Scheme aims to boost the recycling rate for these drinks containers by charging a small, refundable deposit for each plastic bottle or can. The Scheme will include PET plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans between 150ml and 3 litres. A deposit of 15c will apply to containers 500mls or less and a deposit of 25c for each container above 500ml.

The Scheme will be operated by Deposit Return Scheme Ireland CLG, trading as Re-turn, who Minister Smyth appointed in July 2022. All producers and retailers are legally obliged to register with Re-turn.

A decision is due on Lidl's planning application by 31 January 2023 with submissions due by 10 January.