Choose the Right Bottle Recycling Route Before You Bin It
Bottle recycling in Ireland now has three main routes: glass bottles and jars normally go to bottle banks or glass bring banks, eligible plastic drinks bottles go through Re-turn, and most other clean recyclable plastic bottles go into the household recycling bin.
The important part is identifying the bottle before recycling it. Use the Re-turn logo, material and contents to decide whether you need a shop return point, bottle bank or your normal recycling bin.
Quick answer: where does my bottle go?
Do not treat all bottles the same. A milk bottle, shampoo bottle, glass wine bottle and Re-turn water bottle may all use different recycling routes.
The fastest bottle check
1. Is it glass? Use the glass-bank route.
2. Is it a plastic drinks bottle with the Re-turn logo? Use Deposit Return.
3. Is it another recyclable plastic bottle? Empty it, clean it, dry it and place it loose in the household recycling bin.
Where to Recycle Different Bottles in Ireland
The bottle’s material and use matter more than its shape. Use this table before throwing it into a green bin or taking it to a bottle bank.
| Bottle type | Best route | Preparation | Key check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass wine, beer or food bottle | Bottle bank | Empty it. Labels can normally remain. | Use the correct glass-colour container where required. |
| Glass jam or food jar | Bottle bank | Empty and rinse if needed. | Metal or plastic lids can use the household recycling route when clean and dry. |
| Plastic drinks bottle with Re-turn logo | Re-turn point | Empty, undamaged and barcode readable. | Do not crush it before trying to reclaim the deposit. |
| Plastic milk bottle | Recycling bin | Clean, dry and loose. | Dairy containers are outside the Re-turn scheme. |
| Shampoo / shower-gel bottle | Recycling bin | Empty contents, rinse if needed and let it drain. | Ordinary recyclable plastic packaging route. |
| Detergent / cleaning-product bottle | Recycling bin | Empty, clean enough, dry and loose. | Do not recycle a bottle still containing product. |
| Glass perfume bottle | Check parts | Remove detachable pump/spray parts where possible. | MyWaste says the empty glass part can go to a bring bank. |
| Pyrex, drinking glass or ceramic item | Not bottle bank | Keep separate. | These materials are not the same as packaging glass. |
Simple rule: glass packaging → glass bank; eligible deposit bottle → Re-turn; ordinary recyclable plastic packaging bottle → household recycling bin.
Where to Recycle Glass Bottles and Jars in Ireland
MyWaste says clear, green and brown glass bottles and jars should be placed in glass recycling containers at a local bring bank. In Ireland, normal household recycling bins generally do not take glass packaging, so glass usually needs a separate drop-off route.
Use the clear-glass container where the site separates glass by colour.
Use the green-glass bank. MyWaste also says blue glass can go into the green glass container.
Use the brown-glass container. Red or purple glass may use the brown bank where it is genuinely coloured glass.
There is no need to remove normal labels from glass bottles and jars before recycling.
What should not go into a bottle bank?
A bottle bank is for packaging glass, not every object made from glass. Keep the following materials out unless the site explicitly provides a separate route:
- Pyrex and heat-resistant ovenware.
- Drinking glasses.
- Ceramics and crockery.
- Mirrors.
- Window or glazing glass.
- Lightbulbs and fluorescent tubes.
- Other specialist or treated glass.
Why this matters: ceramics, Pyrex and other non-packaging glass can behave differently during glass processing and contaminate the bottle-and-jar recycling stream.
Where to Recycle Plastic Bottles in Ireland
Plastic bottles follow two different routes. Eligible PET drinks bottles subject to Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme should normally go through Re-turn, while many other plastic bottles can still go into the household recycling bin.
Plastic bottles that usually belong in household recycling
MyWaste says plastic milk bottles belong in the household recycling bin and are not part of the Deposit Return Scheme.
These are listed among recyclable plastic bottles when empty, clean, dry and loose.
Cleaning and detergent bottles are included in MyWaste’s recycling-bin material guidance.
Rigid plastic packaging bottles can use the household recycling route when they are not DRS containers.
Green-bin preparation: empty it, rinse only as much as necessary, let it drain, and place it loose in the recycling bin rather than inside a black bag.
Which Plastic Bottles Go Through Re-turn?
Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme covers eligible PET plastic drinks bottles and aluminium or steel drinks cans from 150ml to 3 litres. Eligible bottles normally show the Re-turn logo.
To reclaim the deposit, return the bottle empty and undamaged to a participating retailer through a reverse vending machine or an accepted manual-return service.
Look for the Re-turn logo
If it is an eligible plastic drinks bottle, the Re-turn route is the correct first choice when you want the deposit refunded.
Empty the bottle
There should be no drink left inside before you return it.
Keep it undamaged
Do not crush the bottle. The barcode and container need to remain readable enough for the return system.
Return it to a participating outlet
Use an RVM or an approved manual-return point. Bottles can be returned regardless of where they were originally purchased.
Redeem the refund
An RVM normally issues a voucher. Re-turn says RVM vouchers must be redeemed in the shop where they were issued.
Cap tip: Re-turn says bottles may be returned with or without the lid, but recommends returning the cap with the bottle so it can also be recycled and the bottle shape is easier to preserve.
How Much Is the Bottle Deposit in Ireland?
The current Re-turn deposit depends on container size, not brand.
| Eligible bottle size | Deposit | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 150ml–500ml | €0.15 | Eligible Re-turn drinks container, empty and undamaged. |
| Over 500ml–3L | €0.25 | Eligible Re-turn drinks container, empty and undamaged. |
Glass is not part of Re-turn. Glass drinks containers do not carry the Deposit Return Scheme deposit and should continue through the glass bottle-bank route.
Dairy drinks are also excluded. Milk and yoghurt-drink containers do not use the DRS route, but recyclable plastic dairy bottles should still be recycled through the normal recycling-bin system.
Should Bottle Caps and Jar Lids Be Recycled?
MyWaste says plastic and metal bottle tops, caps and jar lids can go into the household recycling bin when they are clean and dry.
For Re-turn plastic bottles, the cap may stay on. For glass bottles and jars, follow the glass-bank instructions and put separately removed clean recyclable lids into the household recycling bin.
Do not overcomplicate it: labels on normal glass bottles and jars do not need to be removed before the glass goes into the bottle bank.
How to Find Bottle Recycling Near You in Ireland
For glass bottles and jars, use the MyWaste recycling locator and filter for a bring bank, civic amenity centre or recycling centre near your address.
For Re-turn bottles, use a participating retailer or return point. Many supermarkets and shops use reverse vending machines, while some locations accept returns manually.
Identify the bottle first
Glass, Re-turn plastic and ordinary plastic packaging need different routes.
Use the correct locator
Use MyWaste for bottle banks and recycling sites; use Re-turn for eligible deposit bottles.
Check the exact site type
A bring bank may only accept glass and cans, while a civic amenity centre may accept a wider range of materials.
Check access before travelling
Opening hours and accepted materials can vary by local authority or operator.
Common Bottle Recycling Mistakes
Glass packaging normally needs the separate bottle-bank or glass-drop-off route in Ireland.
Keep eligible deposit bottles undamaged with the barcode readable so the return system can identify them.
Pyrex, ceramics and normal packaging glass are not the same material stream.
Empty bottles before recycling or returning them.
Milk bottles, shampoo bottles and household cleaning bottles do not automatically belong to Re-turn.
Clean plastic or metal lids and caps can use the household recycling route.
Examples: Which Route Should You Use?
| Example | Route | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 750ml glass wine bottle | Bottle bank | Glass drinks containers are outside Re-turn. |
| 500ml Re-turn water bottle | Re-turn point | Eligible PET drinks bottle; €0.15 deposit band. |
| 1.5L Re-turn soft-drink bottle | Re-turn point | Eligible bottle over 500ml; €0.25 deposit band. |
| 2L plastic milk bottle | Household recycling bin | Dairy is excluded from DRS. |
| Shampoo bottle | Household recycling bin | Ordinary recyclable plastic packaging when clean and dry. |
| Jam jar | Glass bottle bank | Glass jars use the packaging-glass stream. |
| Pyrex dish | Check Waste A–Z / local centre | Not suitable for normal bottle-bank glass. |
More Recycling Help for Bottles and Packaging
If you are sorting more than bottles, use the site’s household recycling guide for paper, cardboard, soft plastic, cans, food waste, batteries and electrical items.
Bottle Recycling Ireland FAQ
Where do glass bottles go in Ireland?
Glass bottles and jars normally go to a local bottle bank, bring bank or civic amenity glass container rather than the normal household recycling bin.
Can plastic bottles go in the recycling bin?
Many ordinary plastic bottles can go in the household recycling bin when clean, dry and loose. Plastic drinks bottles covered by Re-turn should use the Deposit Return Scheme if you want the deposit back.
Which bottles are included in Re-turn?
Eligible PET plastic drinks bottles from 150ml to 3 litres are included, along with eligible aluminium and steel drinks cans.
How much is the Re-turn bottle deposit?
The deposit is €0.15 for eligible containers from 150ml to 500ml and €0.25 for eligible containers over 500ml up to 3 litres.
Are glass bottles part of the Deposit Return Scheme?
No. Glass drinks containers are outside the Deposit Return Scheme and should use the glass recycling route.
Are milk bottles part of Re-turn?
No. Dairy containers such as plastic milk bottles are excluded from the Deposit Return Scheme but recyclable plastic milk bottles should still go into household recycling.
Do I need to remove labels from glass bottles?
No. MyWaste says normal labels can remain on glass bottles and jars because they are removed during recycling.
Can blue glass go in a bottle bank?
Yes. MyWaste advises placing blue glass into the green glass recycling container.
Can Pyrex go in a glass bottle bank?
No. Pyrex and other heat-resistant glass should not be mixed with normal packaging glass in a bottle bank.
Should I crush a Re-turn plastic bottle?
No. Keep the eligible bottle empty and undamaged with the barcode readable so it can be accepted through the return system.
Can I leave the cap on a Re-turn bottle?
Yes. Re-turn says bottles can be returned with or without the cap and recommends keeping the cap on where possible.
How do I find a bottle bank near me?
Use the MyWaste recycling locator and search by your address or area for bring banks, civic amenity sites and recycling centres.
Official Sources Checked
The bottle-routing rules in this guide were checked against current MyWaste guidance for glass bottles, plastic bottles, household recycling and recycling-site locations, together with current Re-turn consumer guidance for eligible deposit containers, return conditions and deposit values.
Independent Bottle Recycling Information
RecyclingCentreIreland.org is an independent information website. It is not MyWaste, Re-turn, a local authority, waste collector or bottle-bank operator. Recycling routes, local bring-bank locations and site access can change, so check the linked official service before making a special trip.