Separate Collection (Deposit Return Scheme) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 599/2021).

These Regulations shall apply to: 1) Beverage bottles which are manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate (PET bottles) with a capacity of up to 3 litres and their component parts which are used and sealed for the sale of a product contained in them, and for which a deposit under Regulation 17 has been paid; 2) Beverage containers which are manufactured from aluminium or steel with a capacity of up to 3 litres and their component parts which are used and sealed, for the sale of a product contained in them, and for which a deposit under Regulation 17 has been paid. These Regulations shall not apply to plastic beverage bottles which are not manufactured from PET; Aluminium or steel containers which are not designed to contain a beverage.
Part II provides that producers shall establish a Deposit Return Scheme (hereafter “the scheme”) to operate in respect of in-scope bottles, in-scope containers and in-scope products. An approved body shall set any producer and registration fees to meet only its costs of operation and not for profit; the functions are identified under Part II and include: achieve separate collection rates for recycling of in-scope bottles in accordance with the Directive; achieve EU recycling targets for in-scope containers; audit the producers; audit the retailers; etc. An application to the Minister for approval of a person to operate a Deposit Return Scheme shall be made in writing and certain document shall be presented (REg. n 6); Regulation 7 concerns grant or refusal of approval, and follow review and expiry. Part IV concerns obligations of producers and Part V obligation of retailers; Part VI obligations of return point operator.