Share
28th November 2022
04:15pm GMT
"In order to get the money back, you go back to the shop or any shop, it doesn't have to be the one you bought it in, and you will put it into a machine and they will issue you with a ticket which gives you money," Smyth added.
"You can choose to spend it in the shop if you want or you can choose to have cash or you can give it to a charity. You'll have those options on the machine."
The Minister of State also said that retailers "will have to register" with Return.ie - the non-profit organisation operating the Deposit Return Scheme.
He stated that the scheme is "cost-neutral" for retailers and that they will receive a fee for each bottle or can returned.
"A benefit that's going to come out of this scheme is that people are not going to have a party and leave a lot of cans and bottles on the ground because they're going to be worth money," Smyth told Morning Ireland.
"You can pick up somebody else's cans or bottles. Children will do that and will get money back.
"I'm sure there's going to be far less litter."
The scheme is set to come into effect in February 2024. For more details, visit Return.ie.
This article originally appeared on joe.ie
READ NEXT: Martin Scorsese reveals himself as a Derry Girls fan