Re-turn's Small Town, Big Difference campaign continues.
Re-turn, operator of Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), has announced that Ballinora Scout Group, based in Ballinora, County Cork, is one of the five winners of ‘Small Town, Big Difference’. The organisation will feature in a local advertising campaign, across bus stops, billboards and radio in Co. Cork, helping Ballinora Scout Group to raise even more funds through DRS and encourage other community groups to use the Scheme as a fundraising channel.
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.
In total, Re-turn received more than 340 incredible entries from across Ireland. From the ten 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. Ballinora Scout Group impressed the judges with their story of turning returned drink containers into much-needed funds for new tents. By rallying the local community in Ballinora 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. Ballinora Scout Group 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.”
To find your local organisations fundraising through plastic bottle and can collections, visit the Community Initiative Map on Re-turn’s website.
