SMEs

Green minister assures small firms of state’s ‘ongoing support’ as deposit return scheme comes into force

Ossian Smyth, the minister for the circular economy, said that the government will make the programme work for local businesses

Consumers who buy drinks in plastic bottles or aluminium cans with a Re-turn logo will pay a nominal deposit of up to 25 cent in addition to the retail price of the drink from Thursday. Picture: Getty

Ossian Smyth, the Green Party minister, has assured small businesses that they will have “his ongoing support” as the government’s Deposit Return Scheme comes into force.

The scheme - which has been hailed as “one of the most significant and transformative circular economy projects in our recent history” - will see retailers and drinks manufacturers face what has previously been described by the industry as “prohibitive costs”.

Under the Deposit Return Scheme, which is being ...