ALDI Ireland bosses have confirmed a new Deposit Return Scheme Savings Card will now be available at its 163 stores nationwide.
Customers can now avail of the new scheme when they return empty bottles and cans to load funds onto an Aldi Saving Card.
Customers can now conveniently keep all their deposited returns in the same place[/caption]
And the card can be topped up at Aldi checkouts[/caption]
It comes after Aldi’s latest announcement of an additional investment in enhancing and expanding the DRS scheme across its stores nationwide.
The newly designed DRS specific card is designed to encourage customers to return their bottles via the DRS system.
And customers, by loading the value of their DRS vouchers onto their Aldi Savings Card, can conveniently keep all their deposited returns in the same place.
The card can be topped up at Aldi checkouts, offering customers a convenient way to save money or plan for future purchases, while supporting sustainability in their daily shopping habits.
The launch comes as Aldi prepares to reach the milestone of 200 million DRS returns across Ireland this February.
Once this milestone is reached, Aldi shoppers will have returned over €30 million worth of cans and bottles to machines since the scheme’s launch in February 2024.
The retailer is investing in new machines and upgrading existing ones at more than 40 stores, making the scheme easier for customers.
The scheme has significantly surpassed expectations for customer engagement.
The initial government target of recycling 50 per cent of all units this year has already been exceeded, with Aldi performing well ahead of the market, and reporting an impressive 140 per cent return rate across its stores.
The average return in the EU is 16-17 units per transaction, while Irish customers are recycling 20-25 units per transaction.
Aldi’s investment also involves the purchase of an additional compactor at the Naas Distribution Centre, which will speed up the recycling and repurposing of returned bottles and cans.
The scheme aims to reduce the amount of litter across Irish towns, villages and countryside, by incentivising consumers to recycle their empty items.
LOWEST EU RATES
Ireland had one of the lowest rates of recycling PET and aluminium drink bottles and cans, with roughly 60 per cent of all drink containers being recycled before the introduction of the DRS.
Jason Carolan, Plastic & Packaging Manager at Aldi Ireland said: “The DRS scheme has been very popular with Aldi shoppers, and since going live in February 2024, the number of items being returned on a monthly basis has steadily increased.
“That’s why we’re now looking at how we can make it even easier and more efficient to use.
“This investment will allow us to make machines even more user-friendly and faster.”
CUSTOMERS ‘ON TRACK’ TO SAVE MORE
He continued: “Our new DRS Savings Card is a great way to build up the value of deposits over time.
“They’re easy to use and top-up, and customers can not only contribute to the circular economy but also put that money aside for special occasions.”
“Customers are on track to redeem more than €30 million in cash, vouchers and savings at Aldi’s 163 stores, as we expect to soon reach our goal of processing more than 200 million bottles and cans.
“We’re delighted to see our customers engaging with sustainability in such a positive way.”
Ciaran Foley, CEO of Return, added: “We are delighted to see how much Aldi and its customers have embraced the Deposit Return Scheme since it launched and how successful the scheme has been so far.
“We’re looking forward to continuing to work closely with Aldi over the years ahead and are excited to see how customers engage with these innovative new savings cards.”
