Ballinora Scouts Celebrate €2,000 Win from National Re-turn Campaign

Ballinora Scouts Group has been named one of ten finalists in Re-turn's Small Town, Big Difference campaign, a nationwide initiative inviting schools, clubs, and community groups to showcase the meaningful impact they are making locally by fundraising through the Deposit Return Scheme.

The Cork-based scouts group celebrated being awarded €2,000 from Re-turn, joined by TikTok sensations Tadhg and Derry Fleming at the presentation. The father-son duo, known for their viral videos including the famous "Catch him Derry" clip, helped mark the occasion for the local group.

The Small Town, Big Difference campaign, fronted by broadcaster Jennifer Zamparelli, recognises community organisations demonstrating how they can benefit from Ireland's bottle and can return system whilst supporting local causes. Zamparelli explained that ten winners would each receive €2,000 for their community initiatives, whether for new equipment, facility improvements, or other local projects.

Ireland's Deposit Return Scheme has proven remarkably successful since launching on 1 February 2024, with over 500 million drinks containers returned through the system. The scheme adds a refundable deposit of 15 cent or 25 cent to plastic bottles and aluminium cans, encouraging people to return them through more than 2,500 Reverse Vending Machines nationwide.

Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn, noted the grassroots success of the initiative, particularly among community and charity organisations using the scheme for fundraising. The system has delivered impressive environmental results, achieving 98% recyclate quality compared to 80% through traditional recycling methods.

Minister Ossian Smyth highlighted the broader community impact, noting that families and communities have recognised that small changes can make a big difference, with towns, villages and roadsides becoming cleaner whilst clubs and charities benefit from new fundraising opportunities.

The award demonstrates how local Cork groups can successfully combine environmental responsibility with community benefit, supporting both sustainability goals and local activities.