I think I am tired of being "Green".

MrEarl said:
Hello,

I can certainly see why you might be feeling that way - and it sounds like you've been putting in a lot more effort, than most others (incl. myself).

I think that the Irish Green Party are far from the best champions, to represent better ways of living, and a more sustainable environment. They seem to get caught up with silly things, while missing the big opportunities, and that's before we talk about the really stupid stuff. I've seen far better stuff come out of green politicans in Northern European countries, and regularly wonder why our local lot can't just copy them?

The plan to start charging extra for plastic bottles, cans etc. has really annoyed me, as you'll now have to front the cost, and suffer the inconvenience of storing them and transporting them back to certain shops etc. The various drop off points for glass recycling etc. are far more convenient, and you don't have to pay another "indirect tax" (keeping in mind that very few people will return everything correctly etc.).

Reducing the incentives to move to EVs is another stupid move - with grants on purchase being reduced, grants on installing EV Chargers being reduced, discounts on toll brudges being scraped etc. These were all helping encourage people to buy new EVs, and while we're still way behind targets for 2030, they should have been retained, if not even increased!

My view is that I'll do my best, with regards to things that seem logical, don't cost me money (over the medium to longer term), and are reasonably convenient.

Using the green bin is a good example, or good reliable public transport rather than using my car for every journey, getting solar panels to help power my home (and perhaps a future car).

As for the Greens, I just can't wait for the next election ;)
Click to expand...
In Denmark, the pantti recycling of bottles, plastics has existed for 100yrs. It's extremely popular 98pc returns are made. Ireland as usual, being rich but somehow backward has been mandated from 2024 to Finally join the rest of the class.

Are you seriously suggesting that you cannot be bothered to put an empty can, bottle or plastic container in a bag which you can empty at the start of your shop and get your money returned.
Did you complain similarly when your shop introduced a 2E return to ensure their trolleys didn't end up in the Dodder?

My God, talk about being privileged.
 
clinteastwood said:
In Denmark, the pantti recycling of bottles, plastics has existed for 100yrs. It's extremely popular 98pc returns are made. Ireland as usual, being rich but somehow backward has been mandated from 2024 to Finally join the rest of the class.

Are you seriously suggesting that you cannot be bothered to put an empty can, bottle or plastic container in a bag which you can empty at the start of your shop and get your money returned.
Did you complain similarly when your shop introduced a 2E return to ensure their trolleys didn't end up in the Dodder?

My God, talk about being privileged.
Click to expand...
I'm annoyed about this as well and it's got nothing to do with been privileged
I have a green bin outside my door for these items, why can't they just get that system to work properly
But NO, I've got to store the items until my next trip to the shop
Then queue up behind five to ten people on the probably one machine to deposit and collect my voucher
Then go do my shopping and queue up once again and pay extra for those items
And then repeat the same process next week and all for keeping in play something in the region of fifty cent or a euro

I've got better things to be doing with my free time then doing the job of the recycling companies that I'm paying to recycle my waste!!
 
Cervelo said:
I'm annoyed about this as well and it's got nothing to do with been privileged
I have a green bin outside my door for these items, why can't they just get that system to work properly
But NO, I've got to store the items until my next trip to the shop
Then queue up behind five to ten people on the probably one machine to deposit and collect my voucher
Then go do my shopping and queue up once again and pay extra for those items
And then repeat the same process next week and all for keeping in play something in the region of fifty cent or a euro

I've got better things to be doing with my free time then doing the job of the recycling companies that I'm paying to recycle my waste!!
Click to expand...
Very well put!
 
I think that if you were getting money back it might be a good idea and might take off but vouchers ....not so sure . By the time you collect enough vouchers to be worth while spending the first one that you collected will probably be out of date..
 
Every so often I purchase the 36 packed bottles of water from Dunnes Stores, mainly to top up my €5 off my €25 spend. I find the smaller bottles handy to carry around. I know that I can buy one large two litre bottle and save on plastic etc. but I like having the smaller bottles available.
I often drink my tap water, but the quality of this can vary. I also have a water filter jog in my kitchen that I use. My wife refills the smaller bottles with the filtered water, over and over. I don't because I think I read somewhere that I shouldn't be re-using these plastic bottles as the plastic can deteriorate over time.
With the introduction of this new fee on plastic containers, I would imagine that the 36 pack may become a thing of the past. Each individual bottle will have a charge. Having to queue to put my 36 bottles back in a machine will not work...for me. School going children also use these small bottles for their lunch drink...I think that this will just become an extra charge for young families because I am not sure that these will end up being returned to a machine.
I know that I should not be buying a container of 36 plastic bottles....however it is a little treat for me. I collect all of these and re-cycle them carefully.
The roads in my area have become a nightmare to drive on. Bicycles lanes for weekend use everywhere. Slip roads at traffic junctions cemented over. Chicanes that are actually dangerous to motorists. Footpath extensions etc.
Then you look at those pictures of the traffic in India and other similar places.......you got to laugh.
 
T McGibney said:
You won't get your money returned, though. You'll get a voucher to spend in the shop.

So your analogy with the coin you use to release your shopping trolley doesn't hold.
Click to expand...
Don't be daft. If your spend X less in the shop because of the value of X in the returns receipt, then it's the same cost.
Irish exceptionalism!

You probably complained about the inconvenience of the trolley token or that Dunnes don't give you 20bags at your checkout... like in the Rare 'ól times
 
Last edited:
joer said:
I think that if you were getting money back it might be a good idea and might take off but vouchers ....not so sure . By the time you collect enough vouchers to be worth while spending the first one that you collected will probably be out of date..
Click to expand...
You will have the vouchers when you shop. Simply hand over to cashier at til.
Bingo you are done.
 
Cervelo said:
I'm annoyed about this as well and it's got nothing to do with been privileged
I have a green bin outside my door for these items, why can't they just get that system to work properly
But NO, I've got to store the items until my next trip to the shop
Then queue up behind five to ten people on the probably one machine to deposit and collect my voucher
Then go do my shopping and queue up once again and pay extra for those items
And then repeat the same process next week and all for keeping in play something in the region of fifty cent or a euro

I've got better things to be doing with my free time then doing the job of the recycling companies that I'm paying to recycle my waste!!
Click to expand...
You'll find the machines are not so popular!. If they are busy, simply wait 10seconds.
Its new for the irish, why not embrace change for your environment.
 
gledswood said:
Every so often I purchase the 36 packed bottles of water from Dunnes Stores, mainly to top up my €5 off my €25 spend. I find the smaller bottles handy to carry around. I know that I can buy one large two litre bottle and save on plastic etc. but I like having the smaller bottles available.
I often drink my tap water, but the quality of this can vary. I also have a water filter jog in my kitchen that I use. My wife refills the smaller bottles with the filtered water, over and over. I don't because I think I read somewhere that I shouldn't be re-using these plastic bottles as the plastic can deteriorate over time.
With the introduction of this new fee on plastic containers, I would imagine that the 36 pack may become a thing of the past. Each individual bottle will have a charge. Having to queue to put my 36 bottles back in a machine will not work...for me. School going children also use these small bottles for their lunch drink...I think that this will just become an extra charge for young families because I am not sure that these will end up being returned to a machine.
I know that I should not be buying a container of 36 plastic bottles....however it is a little treat for me. I collect all of these and re-cycle them carefully.
The roads in my area have become a nightmare to drive on. Bicycles lanes for weekend use everywhere. Slip roads at traffic junctions cemented over. Chicanes that are actually dangerous to motorists. Footpath extensions etc.
Then you look at those pictures of the traffic in India and other similar places.......you got to laugh.
Click to expand...
In Denmark, children are the best collectors, for the extra pocket money it gives. The charge will have no effect of your affordability of the 36 bottles, unless of course you toss them into the bin.
 
clinteastwood said:
Don't be daft. If your spend X less in the shop because of the value of X in the returns receipt, then it's the same cost.
Irish exceptionalism!
Click to expand...
My observation above in relation to your earlier false analogy stands unrebutted.
clinteastwood said:
You probably complained about the inconvenience of the trolley token or that Dunnes don't give you 20bags at your checkout... like in the Rare 'ól times
Click to expand...
This is baseless and juvenile ad hominem.
 
Last edited:
Even the suggestion of having to take cans and plastic bottles to specialist manufactured machines, is nuts....

Think about the cost to the environment in producing these machines!

Think about the paper and ink that will be used, issuing vouchers for return of "deposits"!

Even for those who think this is a good idea, why not simply create an app that can be used via every personal smart phone, to scan individual items, accrue the credit from them, and then be scanned at a cash register, to give people back their money (or offset against their shopping)?

Cans and plastic bottles could still be disposed of through existing green bins, drop off centres etc.
 
Collecting glass bottles was a great way to supplement kids pocket money back in the Sixties and Seventies. I used to go on a cycle to Tallaght, then a small village. On route there was always a few bottles on the side on the road. The refunds on these would buy an ice pop and crisps in the shop in Tallaght. Great day out for free.

On one occasion we went on a family drive to Glendalough. There were lots of Coca cola bottles to be collected. Myself and my brother collected a batch and got refunds from the stall that was selling them. We collected a second batch and went again for the refunds. The auld one at the stall refused us this time on the grounds that we didn't buy the coke from her. Luckily I also had four sisters. They were able to get the extra refunds.

Ah, the good old days. Nice profit and we didn't know that we were also saving the planet.
 
MrEarl said:
Even the suggestion of having to take cans and plastic bottles to specialist manufactured machines, is nuts....

Think about the cost to the environment in producing these machines!

Think about the paper and ink that will be used, issuing vouchers for return of "deposits"!

Even for those who think this is a good idea, why not simply create an app that can be used via every personal smart phone, to scan individual items, accrue the credit from them, and then be scanned at a cash register, to give people back their money (or offset against their shopping)?

Cans and plastic bottles could still be disposed of through existing green bins, drop off centres etc.
Click to expand...
Could someone please explain what’s going to happen to all the great recycling centres that we have already in place that takes all cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, cardboard etc for a charge of €2?

I crush all my cans and bring all my recyclables once every two months…

What’s going to happen to all the smaller bring centres near supermarkets, garages etc…will these become unviable?
 
gledswood said:
Every so often I purchase the 36 packed bottles of water from Dunnes Stores, mainly to top up my €5 off my €25 spend. I find the smaller bottles handy to carry around. I know that I can buy one large two litre bottle and save on plastic etc. but I like having the smaller bottles available.
I often drink my tap water, but the quality of this can vary. I also have a water filter jog in my kitchen that I use. My wife refills the smaller bottles with the filtered water, over and over. I don't because I think I read somewhere that I shouldn't be re-using these plastic bottles as the plastic can deteriorate over time.
With the introduction of this new fee on plastic containers, I would imagine that the 36 pack may become a thing of the past. Each individual bottle will have a charge. Having to queue to put my 36 bottles back in a machine will not work...for me. School going children also use these small bottles for their lunch drink...I think that this will just become an extra charge for young families because I am not sure that these will end up being returned to a machine.
I know that I should not be buying a container of 36 plastic bottles....however it is a little treat for me. I collect all of these and re-cycle them carefully.
The roads in my area have become a nightmare to drive on. Bicycles lanes for weekend use everywhere. Slip roads at traffic junctions cemented over. Chicanes that are actually dangerous to motorists. Footpath extensions etc.
Then you look at those pictures of the traffic in India and other similar places.......you got to laugh.
Click to expand...

The cause of all that is the water issues with the water supply. Fix that and you could just use one re-usable bottle. Or buy the largest bottle and fill a reusable bottle. They could incentivise that by making the largest bottle much cheaper, and with a refundable deposit.

I think its valid to provide facilities, for people other than drivers. That said they do it badly a lot of the time.

Not sure why India is something to aspire to. They can't breath their air.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top