SuperValu, Centra mark two years of Deposit Scheme with 13.1m Donegal returns

SuperValu and Centra are marking a whopping 13,148,715 container returns across 20 stores in Donegal, just two years after the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme.

With the largest Deposit Return Scheme estate of any retailer in Ireland, Musgrave is among the first retailers to reach 500 million container returns.

A total of 723 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) are installed across 577 SuperValu and Centra stores across the 26 counties in Ireland.

Commenting on the Donegal milestone, Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu and Centra said: “As a community retailer with one of the largest networks of Reverse Vending Machines in the country, SuperValu and Centra are proud of the positive recycling impact being made by customers across Donegal over the last two years.”

“Customers in Donegal have returned an impressive 13,148,715 containers through our Reverse Vending Machines, contributing to a remarkable 500 million containers returned nationwide during that time. Together, these efforts are helping to reduce litter locally and support Ireland’s transition to a more circular economy.”

“This milestone reflects the strong commitment of our customers in Donegal, alongside the continued investment and innovation of our independent retailers and the generosity shown through donations to local charity partners. It’s a powerful example of how small, everyday actions can deliver meaningful benefits for communities right across the county.”

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SuperValu and Centra stores have seen growing customer engagement with the scheme over the past two years, with customers no longer returning containers occasionally but planning returns as part of their weekly shop. This shift is particularly evident on Saturdays and Sundays, now the busiest recycling period in SuperValu and Centra stores, when customers tend to bring larger volumes of containers at once.

SuperValu TidyTowns committee participation in the Deposit Return Scheme also rose to 36 per cent in 2025, generating approximately €77,000 in returns for local TidyTowns projects, up from €60,000 in 2024.

The scheme is also delivering tangible community benefits, with customers generously donating their deposits to national charity partners. To date, a total of €380,000 has been donated in deposits to AsIAm, Irish Cancer Society and Focus Ireland through the SuperValu and Centra store network.