Aldi gets shopping trolley full of empty cans back

GMF and RNB are asking Aldi to take responsibility as an international department store chain and to join the campaign for deposit return schemes on cans and bottles. Following the 2017 campaign at Coca Cola and the cigarette butt collection campaigns, GMF is no stranger to this type of initiative.

Golden Power award

The Aldi staff at Dendermondsesteenweg were briefly startled midday today when a strangely dressed campaigner from GMF handed a trolley full of empty Golden Power cans over at the cash register. The cans were collected from the roadsides around the Aldi shop. Rising from the megaphone: 'Congratulations! Aldi sells the most popular disposable can! A sample shows that Golden Power is the most frequently found disposable can. That is exactly why we are returning these cans to you. Surely you don't leave such desirable objects on the street?' The Aldi branch manager also received a 'Golden Power Award' on top of that. The action is part of the Back to Sender campaign.

Aldi and responsibility 

The international department store chain Aldi is the Ryanair of supermarkets, with high business returns and a high ecological footprint. Aldi's cans, bottles and shopping bags are a dominant presence in the streets. Unfortunately, Aldi packaging represents a disproportionately high share of Ghent's litter and fly-tipping. With this action, we are asking Aldi and other supermarkets to take up their responsibility. It is too easy to pass the buck and point fingers at their own customers. We ask Aldi Belgium to join the campaign for deposits, a proven means to get beverage packaging out of nature and roadsides, just like in its home country Germany. We also ask that other supermarkets, led by trade federation Comeos, stop their lobbying against the introduction of deposit return schemes.

Deposits: after Germany, the Netherlands… Belgium too!

In Germany, a can has a value of 25 cents. Aldi therefore already possesses the know-how to handle deposits and to integrate this throughout its entire chain. What is possible in Germany and the rest of Europe is also possible here. A 70 to 90 per cent reduction in bottles and cans, which means up to ten times less waste along our streets, squares and parks, surely any reasonable person would sign up for that? Obviously, we expect this from all department store chains, not just Aldi. Knowing that deposit return systems have already led to a reduction in litter of up to 40 per cent in 39 countries and regions, the choice is clear! #DepositYesWeCan!

More info:

BackToSender campaign

www.gentsmilieufront.be/statiegeld

Recycling Netwerk Benelux