Re-turn, operator of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme has partnered with professional organiser Sarah Reynolds, founder of Organised Chaos, to share practical tips for plastic bottle and can storage in the home.
Research from Re-turn revealed that three in five people wait until their designated bag is full of plastic bottles and cans before disposing of them at their local Deposit Return Point*. With that in mind, Sarah has provided storage hacks for cans and bottles, no matter how big or small the space. With the September routine reset in full swing, she also shares some great ideas on how to incorporate returning your plastic bottles and cans into your schedule.
Check out Sarah’s hacks in action on Instagram here.
Designated area
Dedicate a ‘landing spot’ for plastic bottles and cans for whenever a drink is consumed, usually at home or in the car. Remember to never crush or squeeze your containers as the bar code must be readable, and stick to only drinks containers, which now all feature the Re-turn logo.
Clever storage solutions at home
For smaller spaces, consider a container or a box tucked into the corner of a counter which will work well to gather plastic bottles and cans. Either lift and take the box to empty at the Deposit Return Point or transfer the contents to a bag and leave the storage container on the counter if you are concerned it won’t make it back to its landing spot!
If working with a larger space, pick up a bigger storage solution that comes with removable bags for easy transfer to the Deposit Return Point. Alternatively, sorting bins or crates can work well for outdoors or in a utility room, with handles for better access.
For anyone who prefers to store plastic bottles and cans in the car, think about fitting a boot organiser, or a simple large box to use as a dedicated storage space outside the home.
Sarah also advises labelling your storage solution to avoid mixing the contents.
Household involvement and responsibility
Think about ways to incentivise household members and use the Scheme collectively for a sustainable future. Sarah suggests creating a chart to track collections and receive rewards or put Deposit Return vouchers or the deposit cash towards a special occasion or treat.
Stacking onto Existing Habits
The best way to create a new habit is to add it to an existing one. When you have gathered several plastic bottles and cans to take to your nearest Deposit Return Point, think about the activities you already do during the week and take the opportunity to bring your containers back at the same time. For example:
- Just before the food shop
- To or from a weekly exercise class
- To or from visiting family on a Sunday
- To or from a weekly outing
- To or from work one day a week
Voucher plan
Once you’ve completed the return, remember to claim your cash back or have a plan for your store voucher. If you set up a habit to bring back bottles and cans just before a food shop, use your voucher during this purchase. If saving your vouchers, consider a small wallet for organising vouchers and keep this in an accessible place like a car glove box or bag.
Campaign ambassador and organisation expert, Sarah Reynolds of Organised Chaos, said: “The introduction of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme offers a great opportunity to promote sustainable habits, and I am thrilled to come on board and provide my expertise to help create make the most of your space when collecting cans and bottles. An important part of sustaining organised spaces in the home is by incorporating a routine to keep it organised, with the right tools and tips, a Re-turn routine is simple to achieve and helps everyone do their part for the environment.”
Re-turn has created an FAQ page on the website for any questions which consumers, retailers and producers may have, and they are strongly encouraged to reach out to info@re-turn.ie if they have any further queries.