CD&V has been advocating for a deposit return scheme for years, now they get to introduce it

This opinion was published on Knack. The spokesperson for the brand-new Minister of Environment and Agriculture, Jo Brouns (CD&V), also mentioned wanting to look into alternatives to deposit return schemes to reduce litter, thereby suggesting that the introduction of a deposit return scheme is still uncertain. However, CD&V itself has passionately advocated for the introduction of a deposit return scheme for years. With its own minister on the portfolio, it should surely succeed. Especially since a deposit return scheme is already part of Flemish and European policy. It was party colleague and former Flemish Minister of Environment Joke Schauvliege (CD&V) who in 2018 advocated for the introduction of a 25-cent deposit on cans and PET bottles. This was because the amount of litter was increasing, and plastic bottles and cans made up about 20% of its weight (40% of its volume). Within the government, together with N-VA and Open VLD, Schauvliege did not succeed in introducing a deposit return scheme, but the Household Waste and Similar Industrial Waste Implementation Plan (2016-2022) did stipulate that litter had to decrease by 20% by weight compared to 2013 by 2022. Deposit return scheme is inevitable Successor Zuhal Demir (N-VA) sounded decisive in her approach to litter. When, after years of monitoring litter, it turned out that the many awareness campaigns, fines, and pilot projects did not have the desired effect, she promised the introduction of a deposit return scheme in 2022. In her own words: ‘a deposit return scheme is inevitable.’ All this time, CD&V has urged Demir in opinion pieces and hearings to introduce a deposit return scheme. Tinne Rombouts (CD&V), along with Steve Vandenberghe (Vooruit) and Mieke Schauvliege (GROEN), was one of the strongest advocates for the introduction of a deposit return scheme. And with success: because the new Local Materials Plan (2023-2030), drawn up under the leadership of Demir, states that a deposit return scheme will be introduced in 2025. It literally states: “The decision to introduce a deposit return scheme for beverage packaging is therefore politically taken.” Has CD&V, under the leadership of Jo Brouns, suddenly changed its mind? Its own rank and file, including the Boerenbond and the Algemeen Boerensyndicaat, are in favour of a deposit return scheme. And with Vooruit in government, and the N-VA, of which Demir took the biggest step forward in the previous legislature, there should actually be no more doubt. Europe chooses deposit return schemes While Minister Brouns hesitates, the introduction of deposit return schemes has been included in the new Packaging Regulation at European level. This law, which was approved by the European Parliament in April of this year, proposes several measures to reduce the amount of packaging and promote recycling. For plastic recyclers, the Regulation is a blessing because for the first time it is stipulated that new plastic packaging must partially consist of recycled material. Article 50 of the regulation also states that all member states, including Belgium, must achieve 90% separate collection of plastic bottles and cans and must have introduced a deposit return scheme for this purpose. An exception is only possible if a member state can achieve this target without a deposit return scheme. According to the latest report from the Interregional Packaging Commission (p32), 64% of cans were collected separately using the blue bag in 2022. A deposit return scheme is inevitable. Should CD&V still hesitate, whether or not under pressure from coalition partner N-VA, it must now be clear. Minister Brouns has the fine task of bringing the Flemish population along with a plan that rids the streets and nature of wandering cans and bottles, which is also an important step towards a circular economy. Politics is debate and theatre, but ultimately above all making and executing decisions. — End Media Contact Rob Buurman, Director Fair Resource Foundation +31 6 16401040 Chloé Schwizgebel, Project Coordinator +31 6 43288231 Related tags More on this topic

This opinion was published on Knack.

The spokesperson for the brand-new Minister of Environment and Agriculture, Jo Brouns (CD&V), also mentioned wanting to look into alternatives to deposit return schemes to reduce litter, thereby suggesting that the introduction of a deposit return scheme is still uncertain. However, CD&V itself has passionately advocated for the introduction of a deposit return scheme for years. With its own minister on the portfolio, it should surely succeed. Especially since a deposit return scheme is already part of Flemish and European policy.

It was party colleague and former Flemish Minister of Environment Joke Schauvliege (CD&V) who in 2018 advocated for the introduction of a 25-cent deposit on cans and PET bottles. This was because the amount of litter was increasing, and plastic bottles and cans made up about 20% of its weight (40% of its volume). Within the government, together with N-VA and Open VLD, Schauvliege did not succeed in introducing a deposit return scheme, but the Household Waste and Similar Industrial Waste Implementation Plan (2016-2022) did stipulate that litter had to decrease by 20% by weight compared to 2013 by 2022.

Deposit return scheme is inevitable

Successor Zuhal Demir (N-VA) sounded decisive in her approach to litter. When, after years of monitoring litter, it turned out that the many awareness campaigns, fines, and pilot projects did not have the desired effect, she promised the introduction of a deposit return scheme in 2022. In her own words: ‘a deposit return scheme is inevitable.’

All this time, CD&V has urged Demir in opinion pieces and hearings to introduce a deposit return scheme. Tinne Rombouts (CD&V), along with Steve Vandenberghe (Vooruit) and Mieke Schauvliege (GROEN), was one of the strongest advocates for the introduction of a deposit return scheme. And with success: because the new Local Materials Plan (2023-2030), drawn up under the leadership of Demir, states that a deposit return scheme will be introduced in 2025. It literally states: “The decision to introduce a deposit return scheme for beverage packaging is therefore politically taken.”

Has CD&V, under the leadership of Jo Brouns, suddenly changed its mind? Its own rank and file, including the Boerenbond and the Algemeen Boerensyndicaat, are in favour of a deposit return scheme. And with Vooruit in government, and the N-VA, of which Demir took the biggest step forward in the previous legislature, there should actually be no more doubt.

Europe chooses deposit return schemes

While Minister Brouns hesitates, the introduction of deposit return schemes has been included in the new Packaging Regulation at European level. This law, which was approved by the European Parliament in April of this year, proposes several measures to reduce the amount of packaging and promote recycling. For plastic recyclers, the Regulation is a blessing because for the first time it is stipulated that new plastic packaging must partially consist of recycled material.

Article 50 of the regulation also states that all member states, including Belgium, must achieve 90% separate collection of plastic bottles and cans and must have introduced a deposit return scheme for this purpose. An exception is only possible if a member state can achieve this target without a deposit return scheme. According to the latest report of the Interregional Packaging Commission (p32), 64% of cans were collected separately using the blue bag in 2022. A deposit return scheme is inevitable.

Should CD&V still hesitate, whether or not under pressure from coalition partner N-VA, it must now be clear. Minister Brouns has the fine task of bringing the Flemish population along with a plan that rids the streets and nature of wandering cans and bottles, which is also an important step towards a circular economy. Politics is debate and theatre, but ultimately above all making and executing decisions.

— End

Media Contact

Rob Buurman, Director Fair Resource Foundation +31 6 16401040

Chloé Schwizgebel, Project Coordinator +31 6 43288231

Related tags

More on this topic

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