Integrating deposit return scheme into packaging levy is a smart decision

The Belgian government announced in its federal coalition agreement that it would investigate "the incorporation of a deposit return scheme into the packaging levy".

The Belgian federal coalition agreement thus aligns perfectly with the deposit return plans that the Walloon and Brussels governments included in their respective coalition agreements in 2019. It is also the only way in which Belgium will be able to lock onto the requirements of the European Single-Use Plastics Directive. And Belgians will see their living environment become visibly cleaner, as deposit return schemes reduce the number of cans and bottles in nature by 70 to 90 per cent.

The European Single Use Plastic Directive 2019/904 (SUP Directive) stipulates that all plastic bottles must contain at least 25% recycled plastic by 2025 (at the end of the federal legislature). The more recycled plastic is used, the less virgin plastic, based on oil or gas, needs to be made. The more cans are collected and recycled, the less new aluminium has to be mined.

According to the European directive, member states must also separately collect 90% of plastic bottles by 2029. Everyone knows that this can only be achieved by introducing a deposit return scheme for beverage packaging. European Commissioner Frans Timmermans, who is responsible for the SUP Directive, therefore advises European member states to introduce deposit schemes.

Norway collects around 90 per cent of plastic bottles and cans separately because the industry would have to pay high taxes if it did not reach that percentage. Lithuania showed that collection figures also rise very quickly with this system. The country introduced deposit return in February 2016. One year later, the collection rate had already risen from 74.3% to 91.9%. It is because of these figures, and the 90% separate collection target imposed by Europe, that one European member state after another is introducing deposit return schemes.

With a deposit return system, the collected plastic is much purer. Companies can make new PET bottles from old ones. Coca-Cola Netherlands said in September 2020 that it would do this in the Netherlands because the government there had already decided on deposit return for all plastic bottles in April. With a deposit scheme, Belgian companies will also be able to make the shift to PET bottles made from 100% recycled material, collected in Belgium.

“We therefore encourage the De Croo government to incorporate the deposit return scheme into the packaging levy. That way, it can tackle plastic pollution at the source. This is how Belgium can join the trend of European member states introducing or expanding deposit return systems”, concludes environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk Benelux.

Since 2017, more than 1,200 partners of the Deposit Alliance (Statiegeldalliantie) have been campaigning together for the introduction of deposits on cans and all plastic bottles in the Netherlands and Belgium. In the Netherlands, deposits on small plastic bottles started on 1 July 2021, and cans will follow at the end of 2022. Germany expanded its deposit return system to all cans and bottles in early 2022.