Commuters warned not to rifle through bins at train stations for cans and bottles

Irish Rail is warning passengers not to rummage in train station bins for bottles and cans for the deposit return scheme.

The national rail operator has put up signs telling people not to go through rubbish for drinks containers as they could get pricked by syringes.

The deposit return scheme operates by customers paying a returnable deposit on bottles and cans and reclaiming a credit when they place the bottle or can in a reverse-vending machine.

Bins in public places are apparently becoming popular for people looking to make 15 or 25 cent when they bring bottles and cans to reverse-vending machines.

Irish Rail said that as well as syringes, bins in train stations may contain broken glass, dirty nappies and rotten food.

Barry Kenny, the communications manager for Irish Rail, said the operator is noticing people going through bins.

“We have seen an increase in instances of people seeking to retrieve cans and bottles from bins since the Deposit Return Scheme,” he said. “The signs have been placed given the observed increase to alert people to the risks and prevent such an injury occurring.”

Can and plastic bottle litter has reduced significantly across towns and cities since the introduction of the deposit return scheme in February.

The first national litter survey, conducted by An Taisce for Ibal, since the introduction of the “Re-turn” scheme, found discarded cans have reduced by almost 30 per cent and plastic bottle waste was less prevalent than in any previous survey.