Over 1.08 million eligible cans and bottles were returned at Electric Picnic last weekend in Laois, almost doubling last year’s total and marking the most successful festival collection in Re-turn’s history.
 
As Official Sustainability Partner of Electric Picnic, Re-turn significantly expanded its presence across the festival, with over 300 Orange Bins, Reverse Vending Machines, Re-turn Rangers, community volunteers and enhanced signage making it easier than ever for festival goers to recycle and donate eligible drinks containers.
 
Across Ireland’s biggest concerts, festivals and sporting events, more than two million eligible cans and bottles have been returned, generating over €335,000 for charities and community organisations.  
 
Every eligible can or bottle donated through an Orange Bin supports Return for Children, helping six of Ireland’s leading children’s charities: Barnardos, Barretstown, Childline by ISPCC, Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, LauraLynn Ireland’s Children’s Hospice and Make-A-Wish Ireland.

Alongside the Orange Bin campaign, community organisations including Meath Camogie, Killeshin GAA, Children’s Books Ireland and Down Syndrome Centre raised funds by collecting eligible containers at events throughout the summer, demonstrating how small actions can create a lasting impact for local clubs, charities and communities.
 
One of the standout success stories was Meath Camogie, whose volunteers collected 233,610 eligible containers at Electric Picnic alone, raising an additional €35,000 towards the club’s ‘Your Plastic, Our Pitch’ campaign.

The club has now raised more than €270,000 towards purchasing land for a new home ground.

“To see more than one million eligible cans and bottles returned at Electric Picnic is an incredible achievement and a fantastic way to finish what has been an outstanding summer for the Scheme,” said Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn.

“What makes these figures even more meaningful is the impact behind them. Every container returned has helped support children’s charities, community groups and local organisations across Ireland, while ensuring even more valuable materials remain within the circular economy,” he said.

“This summer showed that doing good doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether people were at Bloom, cheering on their county at Croke Park or enjoying Electric Picnic, they embraced the opportunity to turn one small action into something much bigger.”

Susan O’Dwyer, CEO, Make-A-Wish Ireland, also commented on the success of the campaign.

“We’ve been blown away by the support for the ‘Return for Children’ charity initiative at Electric Picnic and across the summer campaign,” she stated.

“To see so many festival, concert and sporting event goers donating their empty bottles over the summer has been fantastic. It’s such a simple thing to do, but when thousands of people get involved, it makes a huge difference,” the CEO praised.

“Every can or bottle returned will help six national children’s charities continue their work supporting vulnerable and seriously ill children across the country.

“A massive thank you to everyone at Electric Picnic and all the events across the summer, all the brilliant volunteers who gave their time, and especially every attendee who donated. It’s been an amazing response and one that will make a real difference to children and families.”