‘It’s amazing to see how the money is helping others’, say TU Dublin students leading Re-Turn bottle scheme
Three TU Dublin students have raised over €1,500 for local charities through an innovative bottle return initiative aimed at reducing waste on campus - and say the impact on the local community has been “amazing” to witness.
Aleksander Biegalski, Alex Siedlok, and Cosmin Clopotaru, who are final year Product Design students and part of the Student Volunteering programme, are leading the Re-Turn scheme across the Bolton Street and Linenhall campuses. The project encourages students and staff to recycle their drinks containers, with funds raised through the deposit return system going directly to local charities.
The initiative is supported by their lecturer, Dr Colm O'Kane, and Martin Lynam, manager of the on-site Grumpy Mule Café.
On Wednesday, 8 October, the students visited the Capuchin Day Centre, a vital support service for people experiencing homelessness in Dublin for over 55 years, where they presented Brother Kevin with a cheque for over €800.
“It was eye-opening to see the work the Capuchin Day Centre does,” said Cosmin Clopotaru. “I was surprised to learn they provide more than 1,000 meals a day, and that even some of our fellow students rely on this service.”
“A free hot meal really makes a difference,” added Alex Siedlok. “It’s amazing to see how the money is helping others. We always knew this work was important, but seeing the impact first-hand really drives it home.”
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, Paul Doyle, praised the students for their leadership and compassion.
“These students have shown how a simple idea, combined with time, energy, and a strong sense of social responsibility, can have a real impact,” he said. “Their commitment embodies the spirit of TU Dublin, and I hope their example will inspire many more students to get involved.”
Dr. Colm O'Kane, Senior Lecturer in Product Design, said:
"In the Product Design programme, students learn to apply critical thinking and design principles to developing novel solutions to real-world challenges - sustainability and societal engagement are key values embedded in their learning experience. Through their great work on the Re-Turn initiative, Aleks, Alex and Cosmin have lived out these values and impacted significantly on our local community. "
Fr. Kevin Kiernan, Capuchin Director OFM Cap, Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People said:
“We are very grateful for the kind support of the TU Dublin Bolton Street students. It’s encouraging to see their creativity and their drive in meeting both sustainability objectives and creating impact in their community by choosing to donate the funds they have raised to the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People.
"Their kind donation will support our guests at the Day Centre – those experiencing homelessness or food insecurity - to access nutritious hot meals and food parcels containing basic essentials. We rely on support like this from the public to continue our work to alleviate the impact of homelessness. By choosing to support the Day Centre, TU Dublin Bolton Street students are helping us continue to welcome all our guests with care, comfort and connection.”
Re-Turn Project
The project started small – through repurposing three old bins to launch the first Re-Turn collection point. The bins were strategically placed outside the main cafeteria and combined with clear, informative signage encouraged students and staff to recycle properly. It quickly became clear that the volume of drinks container waste far exceeded what three repurposed bins could handle, and more suitable bins were needed.
With the support from the Green-Campus Open-Call funding, the team could purchase nine larger wheelie bins. Wheelie bins drastically improved the portability of the waste from the collection point onwards. This improved volume meant that they could be positioned in other parts of the building including the Students’ Union area which had high footfall.
Environmental and Social Impact
Over the past year, thousands of cans have been collected with each returned drink container earning €0.15. To date, the team have collected over €1,500 and have committed it to the benefit of the local community.
Their first collection was donated to 'Friends of the Elderly', a local charity which supports older people facing loneliness or isolation. This partnership with the local charity resulted in a Christmas lunch, generously sponsored by Bolton Street cafeteria manager, Aramark's Martin Lynam, bringing together charity beneficiaries and students.
Subsequent recipients were the Red Cross Foundation, an organisation dedicated to helping vulnerable people prepare for, endure, and recover from emergencies within their communities. This donation was the largest from a single contributor this year which led to the team receiving an award at the TU Dublin Students’ Union Awards. Funds generated from the scheme will continue to go to a local charity or projects that work towards the achievement of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The initiative has inspired others around TU Dublin. Students and staff on other campuses have set up their own Re-Turn schemes and they are now up and running on all of TU Dublin’s campuses.
Shared Impact
At TU Dublin we are committed to progressing the UN SDGs through collaboration and action. This project addresses targets under SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. SDG 12 addresses sustainable and efficient use of natural resources, reduce waste and embed sustainable practice.
This project aligns with the Green-Campus theme of Litter & Waste. Under this theme we explore the practical means for preventing, reducing and minimising the amount of litter and waste produced by the campus. As part of our Climate Action Roadmap, we aim to implement circular economy principles by reducing waste, reusing, and repairing products and materials, and to recycle effectively.