Delight as Buncrana Hearts FC turns empty bottles and cans into a big win

Re-turn, operator of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), has announced that Buncrana Hearts Football Group is one of the winners of ‘Small Town, Big Difference’.

The Castle Park-based club has won a €2,000 donation and a starring role in a local campaign to support the growing club’s demand for new equipment, one of five winners out of more than 340 entries in the campaign.

The organisation will feature in a local advertising campaign across bus stops, shopping centres, and radio, helping Buncrana Hearts raise even more funds through DRS and encouraging other community groups to use the Scheme as a fundraising channel.

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The nationwide competition invited community groups across Ireland to share their stories about how they use the Deposit Return Scheme to raise funds and make a difference in their local area. From sports clubs and tidy towns committees to youth groups and charities, entries demonstrated how collecting and recycling bottles and cans can support vital community projects.

From the 10 finalists announced in June of this year, a panel of judges, including broadcaster Jennifer Zamparelli and social media stars Tadhg and Derry Fleming, selected the five winners.

Buncrana Hearts impressed the judges with their story of turning returned drink containers into much-needed equipment for their growing club. By rallying the local community in Buncrana to collect and return bottles and cans, the group has delivered both environmental and social impact, proving that small actions can deliver big results.

Over the last year, over 3,400 local community groups have made a difference by raising funds through the DRS by asking people to donate their deposits from plastic bottles and cans to good causes.

Commenting on the winning group, Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn, said: "We were blown away by the creativity and commitment shown by groups across the country. Buncrana Hearts Football Club is an example of how the Scheme can achieve more than just environmental benefits. Every deposit returned represents not just a container saved from landfills, but a step towards funding projects that bring people together, create opportunities, and improve local communities. We hope their story encourages other groups to see the Deposit Return Scheme as a platform for both sustainability and community growth.”

As a grand prize, the group will feature in Re-turn’s local advertising campaign, which can now be seen at bus stops and billboards across the locality in Inishowen and on local radio.