Abolition of deposit system is up in the air

Supermarket chains have still not met the conditions for releasing the deposit on large plastic bottles. Last year, the decision on the potential abolition of the deposit was postponed and supermarket chains were given an extra year to ensure the agreed end to the use of PVC packaging.

Recycling Network, which represents the environmental movement in this area, notes that the agreement has still not been fulfilled and is calling for the retention of the deposit scheme. As proof, dozens of products packaged in PVC were purchased in Albert Heijn and Jumbo stores. Today this will be shown on a TV broadcast of Brandpunt.

After years of fierce battle over the deposit policy (expanding or abolishing), former State Secretary Joop Atsma decided in 2012 that the deposit on large plastic bottles could be abolished in 2015 if a number of conditions were met in 2013. One of the conditions was the end of the use of PVC as packaging material in supermarkets. When the environmental inspection noted last year that this use of PVC had not ceased, State Secretary Mansveld decided not to release the deposit. After consultation with the House of Representatives, it was decided to review in 2015 whether the conditions had now been met, and also to examine the environmental consequences of abolishing this deposit and whether the growing problem of litter can be addressed in another way.

Surprised and shocked

Next month, State Secretary Wilma Mansveld (Infrastructure & Environment) and the House of Representatives will again consider what needs to be done with the deposit on beverage packaging. Recycling Network has been advocating for years to extend the deposit to small bottles and cans (as already successfully introduced in many countries) so that a cost-effective deposit system is created and a lot of litter is prevented.

To prevent the release of the deposit on large plastic bottles, the presence of PVC as packaging material in supermarkets was therefore investigated beforehand. Surprised and shocked, it was found that it could very easily be established that PVC is still being used as packaging material in various supermarket stores.

Robbert van Duin, chairman of Recycling Network:

“In the very first five stores we visited, we found dozens of products packaged in PVC. The so-called NIR meter we used for this detected PVC in both foils and hard plastic packaging. Beforehand, we thought we would at most find some odd items from the Far East at small supermarket chains. In the end, even at the largest chains Albert Heijn and Jumbo, we found not only all kinds of non-food items, but also blister packs of chewing gum, foil around jars and bottles, jars of sweets, etc. with PVC packaging. This concerned dozens of products ranging from ballpoint pens to razor blades and from tennis balls to computer mice. As far as we are concerned, the conclusion is crystal clear: this agreement has once again not been met, and therefore there can be no question of the deposit being abolished. That is why the deposit scheme must now be properly sorted out, and the discussion must move forward on how the deposit system should be expanded.”

In this regard, Recycling Network refers to developments in an increasing number of European countries and will send the evidence, a large box containing the products packaged in PVC, to the House of Representatives, which will meet with the State Secretary next month to discuss deposit policy.

Supermarket chains have still not met the conditions for releasing the deposit on large plastic bottles. Last year, the decision on the potential abolition of the deposit was postponed and supermarket chains were given an extra year to ensure the agreed end to the use of PVC packaging.