2023-12-04 13:58:39
Far too often, plastic bottles end up in the waste bin or on the street, meaning that millions in deposits are not reimbursed. The Packaging Waste Fund is therefore introducing 5,400 new return points, which should make returning deposit bottles a lot easier.
The collection points are located in all kinds of different places, from train and gas stations to schools. With the 1,800 new machines, people will immediately receive a deposit back when they return bottles. 800 additional machines will be installed in and near supermarkets and will issue the usual deposit slip in exchange for the bottles.
In addition, there will be 2,800 new return points without machines. These are, for example, small supermarkets that take bottles at the checkout and immediately refund the deposit.
Collection ‘downright disappointing’
With the announcement, the waste fund responds to criticism from Vivianne Heijnen, outgoing State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management. In September she called the collection of deposit bottles ‘downright disappointing’. With a collection of 68 percent, the waste fund fell far short of the legal target. It is 90 percent.
In October, the waste fund came up with an improvement plan, but according to the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), it was not satisfactory. The ILT demanded more concrete commitments regarding expanding the number of return points.
The current plan must meet the inspection’s requirement. The caveat: the waste fund will not achieve the 90 percent target until 2026, while this should actually have been achieved by 2024.
Why is the target only achieved two years later than planned? The consumer needs time, says Miranda Boer, spokesperson for the waste fund. “Research we have now conducted into other countries that introduced deposits, such as Norway and Lithuania, shows that it may take some time before people get used to it. They need an average of eight years.”
‘Additional behavioral campaigns needed’
According to Boer, the fact that the new rules on deposits have been in place since July 1, 2021 does not mean that her organization had the research carried out too late. “Only following implementation can you conclude that it is not working. The collection of large bottles went well. We have since established thousands of additional collection points and conducted major campaigns. Many people now know regarding it, but are not yet handing in the small bottles.”
According to Boer, the consumption of bottles outside the home not only requires more delivery points ‘on the go‘, but also regarding a change in behavior. Additional behavioral campaigns should therefore ensure that it becomes a habit for people to hand in their bottles in the coming years.
Also read:
Too few bottles collected, millions in deposits remain unused: this needs to be improved, according to the ILT
The Packaging Waste Fund must come up with an improvement plan for the collection of plastic bottles on Monday. This falls significantly short and many deposits are not refunded.
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