Re-turn encourages festival goers at Electric Picnic to donate plastic bottles and cans for charity

With this year’s Electric Picnic fast approaching, festival goers are being encourage to donate their palstic bottles and cans on site for charity.

Re-turn, operator of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme, is encouraging the 75,000-strong crowd heading to Stradbally to donate their plastic bottles and cans and show their support for Return for Children.

The charity is a fundraising initiative in partnership with six of Ireland’s national Children’s charities - Barnardos Ireland, Barretstown, Childline by ISPCC, Jack and Jill Foundation, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, and Make-A-Wish Ireland.

The Return for Children charity initiative represents 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. This is the first time that these six children’s charities have come together under one umbrella campaign.

READ MORE - BREAKING: Prison Service issues statement following suspected overdoses at Portlaoise Prison

Designated Re-turn donation bins will be located throughout the Electric Picnic site and a Deposit Return facility will give attendees the option to donate their drinks container deposits to the charity initiative or return their plastic bottles and cans and get a voucher.

If attendees prefer to get their plastic bottle and can deposits back, there will be a number of Reverse Vending Machines located near the bar areas of the arena grounds where attendees can receive their vouchers.

To help keep the Stradbally festival litter free on August 16-18, Re-turn is also encouraging festival goers to separate plastic bottles and cans from their other rubbish, leave the caps on bottles, dispose of them in re-turn sites instead of regular bins and not crush bottles and cans.

CEO of Re-turn, Ciaran Foley, said the organisation is happy to be a part of Ireland's largest festival, and to allow attendees to donate to "our very worthy charity initiative Return for Children".

“Our Re-turn donation bins and Deposit Return Points give attendees an easy and convenient way to donate or return their empty cans and plastic bottles. The separate disposal of these drinks containers means not only are festival goers recycling optimally but they can also benefit six incredible children’s charities if they wish.

“Re-turn will also have a designated stand in the Electric Picnic arena area, providing visitors with the opportunity to chat with the team and learn about the Deposit Return Scheme’s benefits and positive impact on energy, water, landfill, and CO2 savings.”

Speaking on behalf of the 6 charities, Make-A-Wish CEO Susan McQuaid O’Dwyer said the charity is "delighted" to be part of the Laois festival. 

“This ongoing collaboration allows us to unite our efforts to support vulnerable children and those facing serious illnesses across Ireland. The Electric Picnic festival offers a unique platform to engage the public in a meaningful way, combining the power of community with environmental sustainability,” O'Dwyer said.

READ NEXT - Laois Gardaí urging people to consider shuttle bus option for Electric Picnic