SuperValu and Centra are marking 500 million container returns across 577 stores nationwide, 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 the among the first retailers to reach 500 million container returns.
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.
Stores in Dublin, Cork, Meath, Galway and Louth have received the largest volume of returns to Reverse Vending Machines across the SuperValu and Centra store network. SuperValu TidyTowns committee participation in the Deposit Return Scheme also rose to 36% 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, demonstrating how small, everyday actions can make a meaningful difference.
A total of 723 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) are installed across 577 SuperValu and Centra stores across the 26 counties in Ireland – empowering communities across Ireland to conveniently make returns and move towards more sustainable shopping habits.
Commenting on the milestone, Luke Hanlon, Managing Director of SuperValu and Centra said: “As a community retailer with the largest network of Reverse Vending Machines across Ireland, SuperValu and Centra are proud to play a part in supporting customers to make a positive recycling impact. Over the last two years, a remarkable 500 million containers have been returned through our Reverse Vending Machine network, helping to reduce local litter and support Ireland’s transition to a circular economy.”
“This milestone reflects not only the commitment of our customers, but also the ongoing investment and innovation of our independent retailers, and the generosity shown through continued donations to our charity partners. We also continue to see real generosity at a local level, like in Sheahan’s Centra in Killarney, where donated deposits were used to fund a defibrillator for the community. It’s a great example of how small, everyday actions can deliver real benefits in towns and villages right across Ireland.”
