People across Ireland return more than two million cans and bottles at summer events for charity
More than 1.08 million cans and bottles were returned during the three days of Electric Picnic, generating approximately €160,000 for charities and community groups
People across Ireland returned more than two million cans and bottles at major events across the country this summer, raising more than €331,000 for charities and community groups, according to Re-turn, the administrator of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), .
Laid end to end, the containers would stretch approximately 377 kilometres – roughly the distance from Dublin to Cork and almost halfway back again.
Throughout the summer, festivalgoers, sports fans and event attendees embraced the opportunity to return and donate their cans and bottles at some of Ireland’s biggest events including Bloom, All-Ireland Championship fixtures, concerts at Croke Park and the Aviva Stadium and Electric Picnic.
Supporting chairties
Through Re-turn for Children, every eligible container donated through a Re-turn Orange Bin supports six leading children’s charities: Barnardos, Barretstown, Childline by ISPCC, Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice and Make-A-Wish Ireland.
Local clubs, charities and community organisations also played a key role, collecting eligible containers at events and turning deposits into funding for projects and initiatives in their own areas. Together, these efforts show how a simple act of returning a can or bottle can create a wider impact for communities across the country.
The summer culminated in a record-breaking weekend at Electric Picnic, where more than 1.08 million eligible cans and bottles were returned over the festival’s three days, generating approximately €160,000 for charities and community groups. It marked the largest festival activation in Re-turn’s history and almost doubled the number of containers returned at the festival in 2025.
Commenting on the success of the campaign, Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn, said: “More than two million cans and bottles returned at events across Ireland this summer is a significant milestone and shows what can be achieved when people come together and take one simple action. From festivals and concerts to sporting events, every individual return contributed to a much bigger collective impact.
“Those returns generated more than €331,000 for charities and community groups this summer alone, while ensuring valuable materials were captured for recycling.
“We’re grateful to everyone who played a part – from festivalgoers and sports fans to volunteers, event organisers, charities and community groups. Their support has helped turn millions of individual returns into meaningful funding for organisations and communities across Ireland.”
Re-turn’s event presence included Orange Bins, Reverse Vending Machines, Re-turn Rangers, community volunteers and dedicated signage, making it as simple as possible for people to return or donate eligible containers while on the go.
