Return your bottles and cans to make a difference to a child’s life

Re-turn, operators of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme, today announced ‘Return for Children’ a new charity fundraising initiative in partnership with six of Ireland’s national Children’s charities - Barnardos Ireland, Barretstown, Childline by ISPCC, Jack & Jill, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, and Make-A-Wish Ireland. 

This is the first time that these six children’s charities have come together under one umbrella campaign. 

Working with large-scale events such as festivals, concerts, and sporting matches, ‘Return for Children’ will provide attendees at participating events with the option to donate their bottle and can deposits at designated Re-turn bins for charity. The monies raised from the initiative collections will be equally divided between all six charities allowing them to continue their vital work supporting vulnerable and seriously ill children in communities across Ireland.  

Collectively, the six charities represent over 165,000 service users made up of vulnerable children in our communities who are affected by poverty, abuse, neglect and bereavement and also children whose lives are affected by serious childhood illness, in some cases life-limiting. 

Event organisers who would like to give their attendees the option to donate their bottle and can deposits to ‘Return for Children’ can get in touch with Re-turn by emailing info@re-turn.ie 

Commenting on the launch Ciaran Foley, CEO, Re-turn, said, “We are delighted to announce our new initiative with six of Ireland’s national children’s charities. This campaign will initially be rolled out across large-scale events, allowing visitors to donate to these worthy charities, if they wish to do so. The donation stations will give attendees the chance to make a positive difference to children in local communities up and down the country by donating their bottles and cans. Consumers still have the option to bring their empty plastic bottle and cans back to their nearest deposit return points to get their money back.  

Today’s announcement forms part of our ongoing commitment to supporting local communities across Ireland and we look forward to working with more local community programmes in the coming months.”  

Commenting on the initiative, the six charities collectively said, “We are incredibly proud to come together as a unified group of six national Children's Charities under the 'Return for Children' initiative. This marks the first time all six Children’s Charities are partnering on a single campaign. Our collaboration with Re-turn demonstrates our shared commitment to supporting vulnerable children and those with serious illnesses across Ireland, while also promoting environmental sustainability. By donating your bottles and cans at participating stadiums and events, your efforts will have a direct impact on the lives of children in need. We urge the public to join us in this innovative effort, using the Re-turn bins at major events to help create a caring future for our children and our planet.” 

Re-turn will be collecting at the following confirmed events: 

• Taste of Dublin 13-16 June 
• Electric Picnic 16-18 August  
• The National Ploughing Championships 17-19 September   

Taste of Dublin, kicking off tomorrow, Thursday 13 June, will have the designated Re-turn bins at the entrance and exit collecting drinks container deposits for the ‘Return for Children’ campaign. 

Attendees at events are under no obligation to donate their drinks container deposits. Anyone who would like to get their deposit back, should bring their drinks container to the nearest Deposit Return Points after an event. 

Event organisers or local organisations and communities who want to fundraise through Re-turn logo plastic bottle and can collections for their own chosen charities, can get information and guidance on how to best do this by contacting communities@re-turn.ie