WATCH: Laois publicans put new Bulk RVM recycling machine to the test in Portlaoise

Downey’s Centra on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise has become the first location in County Laois to introduce a Bulk Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) as part of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), providing a new and more efficient way for customers and local businesses in Laois to recycle large quantities of cans and bottles.

A Bulk RVM is a high-capacity recycling machine which allows users to pour an entire bag of empty plastic bottles and aluminium cans into the machine at once, rather than feeding each container through individually.

The machine operates from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, with the opening hours designed to ensure that a staff member is always available to assist with its operation and deal with any potential breakdowns or blockages.

The Bulk RVM has been operational since September 1st, when the new Centra shop and Texaco filling station opened at the junction of the Dublin Road and Colliers Lane.

Speaking to the Leinster Express, Joey Egan, Shop Manager at Downey’s Centra, said the new machine is “faster, it’s cleaner, it will save time and it will sort the cans itself.”

Mr Egan explained that in the first week of operation, the Bulk RVM processed a volume of over 100,000 containers. The machine is expected to process over 500,000 or 600,000 containers per month.

Mr Egan added by saying: “the reaction (amongst the public) has been fantastic, it is making people happy that they don’t have to put their hands in and get them all sticky and wet and it is also bringing a lot of footfall to the store. We have also seen a lot of charities use it with the clean up for Electric Picnic.”

When asked if there have been any issues with the machine, Mr Egan stated: “The only issue we have had is with damaged cans and litter getting stuck in the machine. There is a phone number up if there are any issues, call the number and a staff member will come out and unblock it.”

The introduction of the Bulk RVM is also proving particularly useful for local businesses that deal with large volumes of Deposit Return Scheme containers.

We also spoke to Jack Wallace, a local publican and owner of Ramsbottoms, located at 101 Main Street, Portlaoise.

This was the first time Mr Wallace had used the Bulk RVM when we spoke to him on site, with over 400 empty cans of Bulmers ready to be processed.

Mr Wallace said he has to complete the process around twice a week. “I don’t charge the customer the 15 cent because I get back the 15 cent, so we have to do this to get our money back, because we don’t get bins to recycle our cans. I go through between 40 and 50 cases a week.”

Mr Wallace explained that he previously used the other Deposit Return Scheme machines, where cans have to be entered one at a time. He said that prior to using the bulk machine, the process took him well over an hour between loading and unloading.

Speaking about the new Bulk RVM, Mr Wallace said: “It is a lot less work now, normally on a run I will recycle about 700 cans.”

Mr Wallace said he will definitely be using the machine again.

We also spoke to Dick Dunne, owner of Dunne’s Bar in Stradbally, who has also experienced the difficulties involved in processing large quantities of cans and bottles through the traditional Deposit Return Scheme machines.

Mr Dunne explained that: “The other machines were very time consuming, this machine looks to be the answer to a lot of the problems with them. I went one day with 14 black sacks of cans and bottles and it took me over an hour and a half to do them, by hand each individual can.”

The scale of the recycling required following Electric Picnic was even greater, with Mr Dunne explaining that: “After the Electric Picnic I had about 30 bags, on a normal week of recycling you maybe would have between 8 to 10 bags.”

For businesses such as Ramsbottoms and Dunne’s Bar, which can deal with hundreds or even thousands of deposit-return containers each week, the difference between processing bottles and cans individually and being able to empty entire bags into a bulk machine is considerable.

The new Bulk RVM appears to offer a practical solution to that problem, allowing large numbers of containers to be processed more quickly and efficiently.

For Downey’s Centra, the early figures are also significant, with more than 100,000 containers processed in the machine during its first week alone and an anticipated monthly volume of between 500,000 and 600,000 containers.

The response from the public, along with the experience of local businesses already using the machine, suggests that there is a clear demand for a faster and more convenient way of dealing with large volumes of Deposit Return Scheme containers.

The introduction of Laois’ first Bulk RVM is therefore a significant development for recycling in Portlaoise and the wider community.

For the average customer returning a small number of bottles and cans, the existing RVM system remains straightforward, but for pubs, businesses, charities and community groups dealing with bags of containers at a time, the bulk machine could make a substantial difference.

If the early figures and the reaction from local businesses are anything to go by, Downey’s Centra’s new Bulk RVM is already proving that there is a demand for a quicker and more practical approach to recycling in Laois.