Three students from Regina Mundi College, County Cork, have won the inaugural Re-turn Award at the 2025 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE). Fourth-year students, Fallon O’Brien, Cara McKeown and Faye Dunwell were presented the award at the official prizegiving on Friday, the 10th of January.
The project titled “Assessing the effectiveness of the Deposit Return Scheme in reducing plastic waste in Cork”, was found to have demonstrated outstanding environmental innovation with a positive social impact. The project gathered an incredible number of survey responses with over 700 participants from Cork providing insights into public participation, perception and effectiveness of the Scheme.
Re-turn, the operator of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme, was on-site for the 61st BTYSTE, and as a first-time sponsor, was delighted with the opportunity to connect with a generation of environmentally conscious consumers and inspiring future change-makers.
Commenting on the Award winners and exhibition, Niamh Kelly, Head of Marketing and Communications for Re-turn said: “It was a pleasure to meet Fallon, Cara and Faye from Regina Mundi College, Cork. Their project on the effectiveness of the Deposit Return Scheme in reducing plastic waste in Cork was very deserving of the Re-turn Award for Outstanding Environmental Innovation with a Positive Social Impact. With 550 finalists, it was really encouraging to see so many primary and secondary level students take an interest in circular economy initiatives and use the Scheme as inspiration for several projects”
Future BTYSTE project groups or individuals can contact Re-turn for information on the Deposit Return Scheme at info@re-turn.ie.