Cork Airport has teamed up with Re-turn to launch the first reverse vending machines located at a transport hub as part of the Deposit Return Scheme, under a pilot programme.
The airport will have four Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) in total, two pink charity RVMs and two standard RVMs, with one of each located landside and airside at the airport, allowing passengers the choice to donate their deposits to charity or utilise them for purchases at the airport cafés, food court and bar. Deposits from drinks containers returned to the charity RVMs will go to the ‘Return for Children’ initiative, encompassing six of Ireland’s largest children’s charities.
This development makes Cork Airport the first airport and the first transport hub in Ireland to pilot RVMs and is another progressive step in Cork Airport’s overall commitment to sustainable business practice. At the end of the pilot programme, Cork Airport will review the level of recycling and make improvements and changes as necessary.
All funds raised by the charity RVMs will be evenly distributed to the six children’s charities encompassing the Return for Children initiative: Barnardos Ireland, Barretstown, Childline by ISPCC, Jack & Jill, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, and Make-A-Wish Ireland. Collectively, these six charities support over 165,000 vulnerable and seriously ill children in communities across Ireland.
At a ceremony at Cork Airport, Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Dan Boyle officially unveiled the new machines.
To date, over €70,000 has been raised for the six charities encompassing Return for Children. 470,000 containers have been donated via designated Re-turn donation bins at participating events including Electric Picnic, the Bord Bia Bloom Festival, Taste of Dublin, and the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at the Aviva Stadium.
Businesses or organisations interested in fundraising for charity through the Deposit Return Scheme can contact Re-turn at business@return.com
