Already 88 Flemish cities and municipalities are asking the Flemish government for a deposit return scheme
In barely a month, the number of participating Flemish municipalities doubled: from 36 at the beginning of February to 88 municipalities by the end of February. Together, these cities and municipalities account for 2.15 million inhabitants. Among the newcomers are Maasmechelen, Dilbeek, Turnhout, Beveren, Sint-Niklaas, Mechelen, and Bruges. The Deposit Alliance brings together organisations, businesses, cities, and municipalities behind one clear demand aimed [...]
In barely a month, the number of participating Flemish municipalities doubled: from 36 at the beginning of February to 88 municipalities at the end of February. Together, the cities and municipalities count 2.15 million inhabitants. Among the newcomers are Maasmechelen, Dilbeek, Turnhout, Beveren, Sint-Niklaas, Mechelen and Bruges.
The Statiegeldalliantie (Deposit Alliance) unites organisations, companies, cities and municipalities behind one clear demand directed at the government: "Introduce a deposit on all plastic bottles and cans in 2018." The alliance demonstrates the broad support for this measure.
In February, 15 new Flemish companies and organisations also joined. The counter of the total number of partners in the Netherlands and Flanders has crossed the milestone of an impressive 400 partners.
Earlier, energy cooperative Ecopower, the Boomtown festival and the Province of Limburg also joined the demand. The largest consumer organisation Test-Aankoop and the largest women's movement KVLV were among the founders of the Statiegeldalliantie.
On the political agenda
Litter is clearly a major source of annoyance for people, organisations and municipalities. Bottles and cans make up 40 per cent of the volume of litter. The fight against litter costs Flemish municipalities hands over fist in tax money. Some 155 million euros every year in Flanders, according to the most recent study by OVAM. The fight against litter is increasingly cropping up in debates ahead of this autumn's municipal elections.
The fact that municipalities, companies, environmental organisations and civil society organisations alike support the same demand indicates that support for a deposit system is very broad. The rapid growth shows that there is momentum.
The Statiegeldalliantie therefore expects the Flemish government of N-VA, CD&V and Open VLD to decide in favour of introducing a deposit system soon.
In the Netherlands, the number of municipalities affiliated with the Statiegeldalliantie rose to nearly 200.
The Dutch supermarket chain Ekoplaza also joined. The largest farmers' organisation in the Netherlands, Land- en Tuinbouw Organisatie Nederland (LTO), linked itself to the Statiegeldalliantie last week. LTO Nederland represents nearly 50,000 agricultural entrepreneurs in the Netherlands.
Press contact
Tom Zoete, Communications admin@fairresourcefoundation.org
List of new additions in the month of February
NB: This list was finalised on 28 February. There are new registrations every day, which we verify carefully. Therefore, some new registrations are still being processed (for example, the coastal municipalities that have already decided to join, but have not yet formally registered).
Local authorities
Municipalities and cities (52 new in February)
Province
Inhabitants
Municipality of Vorselaar
Antwerp
7,778
Municipality of Rijkevorsel
Antwerp
11,915
Municipality of Boechout
Antwerp
12,908
Municipality of Oud-Turnhout
Antwerp
13,447
Municipality of Boom
Antwerp
17,955
Municipality of Putte
Antwerp
18,000
Municipality of Ranst
Antwerp
18,981
Municipality of Zwijndrecht
Antwerp
18,991
Municipality of Kontich
Antwerp
20,952
Municipality of Westerlo
Antwerp
24,688
City of Mortsel
Antwerp
25,588
Municipality of Mol
Antwerp
36,506
City of Turnhout
Antwerp
43,467
City of Mechelen
Antwerp
85,665
Municipality of Zutendaal
Limburg
7,270
Municipality of Borgloon
Limburg
10,668
Municipality of Lummen
Limburg
14,776
Municipality of Tessenderlo
Limburg
18,507
Municipality of Heusden-Zolder
Limburg
33,135
City of Lommel
Limburg
33,996
Municipality of Maasmechelen
Limburg
37,655
Municipality of Lierde
East Flanders
6,563
Municipality of Zomergem
East Flanders
8,426
Municipality of Melle
East Flanders
11,321
Municipality of Laarne
East Flanders
12,520
Municipality of Brakel
East Flanders
14,797
Municipality of Herzele
East Flanders
17,766
Municipality of Lebbeke
East Flanders
19,066
Municipality of Temse
East Flanders
29,515
City of Deinze
East Flanders
31,055
Municipality of Beveren
East Flanders
48,162
City of Sint-Niklaas
East Flanders
76,028
Municipality of Pepingen
Flemish Brabant
4,409
Municipality of Kapelle-op-den-Bos
Flemish Brabant
9,382
Municipality of Machelen
Flemish Brabant
15,398
Municipality of Ternat
Flemish Brabant
15,428
Municipality of Merchtem
Flemish Brabant
16,302
City of Aarschot
Flemish Brabant
29,654
Municipality of Tienen
Flemish Brabant
34,185
City of Halle
Flemish Brabant
39,074
Municipality of Dilbeek
Flemish Brabant
42,024
Municipality of Pittem
West Flanders
6,702
Municipality of Langemark-Poelkapelle
West Flanders
7,948
Municipality of De Panne
West Flanders
10,915
Municipality of Staden
West Flanders
11,314
City of Nieuwpoort
West Flanders
11,351
Municipality of Zonnebeke
West Flanders
12,352
City of Diksmuide
West Flanders
16,650
Municipality of Bredene
West Flanders
17,585
City of Harelbeke
West Flanders
27,500
City of Ypres
West Flanders
34,950
City of Bruges
West Flanders
118,225
Organisations and companies
Aardman
is local handicraft, interior design with humour, upcycled stuff with a twist.
Gezondverstandig.be
a news site aimed at anyone who wants to limit their ecological footprint in a fun way.
Sisters At Work
are two sisters who as ECO pa
In barely a month, the number of participating Flemish municipalities doubled: from 36 at the beginning of February to 88 municipalities at the end of February. Together, the cities and municipalities count 2.15 million inhabitants. Among the newcomers are Maasmechelen, Dilbeek, Turnhout, Beveren, Sint-Niklaas, Mechelen and Bruges.
The Statiegeldalliantie unites organisations, companies, cities and municipalities behind one clear demand directed at the government: "Introduce a deposit on all plastic bottles and cans in 2018." The alliance demonstrates the broad support for this measure.
In February, 15 new Flemish companies and organisations also joined. The counter of the total number of partners in the Netherlands and Flanders has crossed the milestone of an impressive 400 partners.
Earlier, energy cooperative Ecopower, the Boomtown festival and the Province of Limburg also joined the demand. The largest consumer organisation Test-Aankoop and the largest women's movement KVLV were among the founders of the Statiegeldalliantie.
On the political agenda
Litter is clearly a major source of annoyance for people, organisations and municipalities. Bottles and cans make up 40 per cent of the volume of litter. The fight against litter costs Flemish municipalities hands over fist in tax money. Some 155 million euros every year in Flanders, according to the most recent study by OVAM. The fight against litter is increasingly cropping up in debates ahead of this autumn's municipal elections.
The fact that municipalities, companies, environmental organisations and civil society organisations alike support the same demand indicates that support for a deposit system is very broad. The rapid growth shows that there is momentum.
The Statiegeldalliantie therefore expects the Flemish government of N-VA, CD&V and Open VLD to decide in favour of introducing a deposit system soon.
In the Netherlands, the number of municipalities affiliated with the Statiegeldalliantie rose to nearly 200.
The Dutch supermarket chain Ekoplaza also joined. The largest farmers' organisation in the Netherlands, Land- en Tuinbouw Organisatie Nederland (LTO) linked itself to the Statiegeldalliantie last week. LTO Nederland represents nearly 50,000 agricultural entrepreneurs in the Netherlands.
Press contact
Tom Zoete, Communications admin@fairresourcefoundation.org
List of new additions in the month of February
NB: This list was finalised on 28 February. There are new registrations every day, which we verify carefully. Therefore, some new registrations are still being processed (for example, the coastal municipalities that have already decided to join, but have not yet formally registered).
Local authorities
Municipalities and cities (52 new in February)
Inhabitants
7,778
11,915
12,908
13,447
17,955
18,000
18,981
18,991
20,952
24,688
25,588
36,506
43,467
85,665
7,270
10,668
14,776
18,507
33,135
33,996
37,655
6,563
8,426
This page is automatically translated. A human review will follow soon.
