Fewer bottles in the environment again, but the Netherlands is not realising the potential of the deposit system

Yesterday, the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, Vivianne Heijnen, published the most recent monitoring report from Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) on the number of beverage containers in litter. This report shows that in the spring of 2022, RWS found 53% fewer plastic bottles in litter compared to the spring of 2020. Because many Covid-19 measures were in place in the reference year of 2020, the decrease is expected to be somewhat sharper in reality.[1] Decrease in the number of bottles in litter continues The previous measurement by RWS showed a 41% decrease in the number of bottles in litter. State Secretary Heijnen indicates that these latest litter figures "strengthen her conviction that deposit schemes are an effective tool against litter". Since the introduction of the deposit scheme, the share of plastic bottles in litter has indeed decreased significantly. Dirk Groot communicated earlier this year that his monitoring shows that the share of plastic bottles in litter has decreased by 76% since the start of the deposit scheme. This indisputably makes deposits more effective than any previous action against litter. However, this data also shows that the potential of deposit schemes as an instrument against environmental pollution is not yet being fully realised. There is still a major step to be taken Research agency CE Delft predicted that deposits could reduce the number of plastic bottles in litter by 70–90%. They based this on earlier results achieved in other countries. Despite the fact that the system is only a year old, it is clear that we are still far from these target results, and it can be concluded that active adjustments are needed. We have previously indicated in an interim evaluation what the success factors of a well-functioning deposit scheme are, and which levers the government and the business community can still turn to improve the Dutch system. These include: increasing the deposit amount, legally embedding that consumers can get their deposit back at points of sale, no confusing exceptions, and a strong and motivating public campaign. In addition, we also expect that the government will not settle for a system that hits the lower limit of 70% fewer bottles in our nature, but aims for a deposit scheme that keeps as many bottles as possible out of the environment. However, the government's current attitude raises questions about this ambition. Heijnen's letter shows no intention of making adjustments to increase the impact of the Dutch deposit scheme on litter. The State Secretary does not give the committee insight into collection rates Today, the State Secretary announced the litter figures in response to a request from the Infrastructure and Water Management committee to gain insight into the collection figures. These collection figures are also an important indicator of the effectiveness of the deposit system. In addition to reducing litter, the positive environmental impact of deposit schemes also consists of more and better recycling, so that fewer raw materials are used for plastic bottles put on the market. The collection figures show how many bottles actually return to the deposit system. This cannot be deduced solely from litter data, because bottles can also end up in PMD (plastic, metal, and beverage cartons) or residual waste. This committee-wide request was initiated by the Party for the Animals, which has already requested the collection figures from the State Secretary several times. Just as in her response to the Party for the Animals at the time, the State Secretary is now also responding negatively to this current request from the committee. She refers to August 2023, when she will receive insight into collection figures from the sector for the first time. The deposit scheme for small plastic bottles will then have been in operation for over 2 years. Dutch government must take control We find it non-transparent and groundless that the government refuses to provide the collection figures when requested by the House of Representatives. In addition, it is incomprehensible that the government itself does not want interim insight into progress towards achieving the legal target of 90% separate collection. We call on State Secretary Heijnen to still honour the committee's request and to give the House of Representatives insight into the collection figures of small plastic bottles soon. The litter data and collection figures together will give the House of Representatives and the government further insight into what adjustments are needed to improve the Dutch deposit scheme and realise its full potential. [1] In the spring of 2020, many Covid-19 measures were in place, causing people to stay indoors. Due to this unusual baseline year, in which according to measurements by Dirk Groot there were already significantly fewer bottles in litter, the decrease in lit

Yesterday, the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, Vivianne Heijnen, published the most recent monitoring report from Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) on the number of beverage containers in litter. This report shows that in the spring of 2022, RWS found 53% fewer plastic bottles in litter compared to the spring of 2020. Because many Covid-19 measures were in place in the reference year of 2020, the decrease is expected to be somewhat sharper in reality.[1]

Decrease in the number of bottles in litter continues

The previous measurement by RWS showed a 41% decrease in the number of bottles in litter. State Secretary Heijnen indicates that these latest litter figures "strengthen her conviction that deposit schemes are an effective tool against litter". Since the introduction of the deposit scheme, the share of plastic bottles in litter has indeed decreased significantly. Dirk Groot communicated earlier this year that his monitoring shows that the share of plastic bottles in litter has decreased by 76% since the start of the deposit scheme. This indisputably makes deposits more effective than any previous action against litter. However, this data also shows that the potential of deposit schemes as an instrument against environmental pollution is not yet being fully realised.

There is still a major step to be taken

Research agency CE Delft predicted that deposits could reduce the number of plastic bottles in litter by 70–90%. They based this on earlier results achieved in other countries. Despite the fact that the system is only a year old, it is clear that we are still far from these target results, and it can be concluded that active adjustments are needed. We have previously indicated in an interim evaluation what the success factors of a well-functioning deposit scheme are, and which levers the government and the business community can still turn to improve the Dutch system. These include: increasing the deposit amount, legally embedding that consumers can get their deposit back at points of sale, no confusing exceptions, and a strong and motivating public campaign.

In addition, we also expect that the government will not settle for a system that hits the lower limit of 70% fewer bottles in our nature, but aims for a deposit scheme that keeps as many bottles as possible out of the environment. However, the government's current attitude raises questions about this ambition. Heijnen's letter shows no intention of making adjustments to increase the impact of the Dutch deposit scheme on litter.