Flemish parliament examines design of deposit return system for cans and plastic bottles

Farmers' organisations, environmental organisations, Flemish cities and municipalities, and a representative of the Dutch government spoke about the building blocks of a good deposit system. On Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 October, the Environment Committee of the Flemish Parliament held hearings on the Proposal for a resolution on reducing the amount of single-use plastics and the rapid introduction of a deposit system on beverage packaging by MPs Mieke Schauvliege (Groen), Steve Vandenberghe (Vooruit) and colleagues. Pieter Elsen represented the voice of more than 15,000 citizens who signed the petition of Canal It Up. On Friday 14 October, the Public Flemish Waste Agency Ovam published the report "Litter and illegal dumping 2021". This shows that the industry has failed to achieve the 20% reduction by weight. This target was set in the Household and Similar Industrial Waste Implementation Plan 2016-2022, the Packaging Agreement of 2018, and the Coalition Agreement of the Flemish Government 2019-2024. The Coalition Agreement further states that if the targets are not met, a deposit system or a reward system will be introduced. In the hearing, OVAM further explained the figures and emphasised that 'no structural decrease in litter can be seen'. OVAM also raised questions about the current effectiveness of the Belgian recycling system. Particularly for plastic packaging, the recycling rate is not as high as in other countries. Since the beginning of her term in office, Flemish Minister for Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) has repeatedly warned the industry that the Flemish Coalition Agreement 2019-2024 provides that Flanders will introduce a deposit on cans and bottles if the -20% by weight litter target is not met in 2022. Building blocks for the deposit system In the Committee, the experts spoke about the litter figures, the demands of their organisations, and what the building blocks of an effective deposit system are. Reference was made several times to practical experience in countries that already have a deposit on cans and bottles. A whole range of success factors emerged from this. The system must be simple, convenient, customer-friendly, and accessible, emphasised experts from OVAM, Recycling Netwerk, and CanalItUp, among others. The Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities VVSG also made a strong plea that it is the role of the distribution sector to set up collection in supermarkets and points of sale, and that it is not the intention to use public space for this purpose. In addition, OVAM proposed a minimum framework with the obligation that medium and large beverage sales outlets of over 400 m2 net retail area function as collection channels. The deposit amount must be a sufficiently high financial incentive, emphasised the speakers from Recycling Netwerk Benelux, BBL, Canal It Up, the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG), and OVAM. Growing consensus Remarkably, the representative of the Farmers' Union, together with his colleague from the Algemeen Boerensyndicaat, defended the introduction of the deposit system. Indeed, farmers and vegetable growers are faced with fragments of cans that are both a problem during harvesting and pose a threat to cattle health. A broad majority of MPs from both majority and opposition support the introduction of a deposit. Minister Demir declared on 14 October that she is putting the introduction of a deposit on the table of the Flemish government for a decision before the end of this year. Coalition partner CD&V and also the opposition parties Vooruit and Groen have long been proponents of deposits. Demir is also consulting with her Walloon and Brussels colleagues, Céline Tellier and Alain Maron (both Ecolo), to introduce deposits throughout Belgium. Reaction of the packaging sector In the Flemish Parliament, Fost Plus and trade federation Comeos were also given the floor. They continued to oppose the introduction of the deposit system involving the return of empty beverage packaging at points of sale. Fost Plus CEO Wim Geens proposed an 'integral approach' and a scanning system where citizens must scan their packaging every time before throwing it into the blue bag or a rubbish bin. Many experts and MPs pointed out that at present, such a scanning system does not exist anywhere in the world. The necessary technology has yet to be researched and developed. For the research alone, the business sector previously stated that it would need until 2025, with no guarantee of further development of the required technology. In addition, MPs raised questions about risks to privacy and fraud and doubted whether everyone has the necessary digital skills to work with QR codes. According to Nathalie De Greve, Director of Sustainability at Comeos, a deposit system with return to sho

Farmers' organisations, environmental organisations, Flemish cities and municipalities, and a representative of the Dutch government spoke about the building blocks of a good deposit system.

On Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 October, the Environment Committee of the Flemish Parliament held hearings on the Proposal for a resolution on reducing the amount of single-use plastics and the rapid introduction of a deposit system on beverage packaging by MPs Mieke Schauvliege (Groen), Steve Vandenberghe (Vooruit) and colleagues. Pieter Elsen represented the voice of more than 15,000 citizens who signed the petition of Canal It Up.

On Friday 14 October, the Public Flemish Waste Agency Ovam published the report “Litter and illegal dumping 2021”. This shows that the industry has failed to achieve the 20% reduction by weight. This target was set in the Household and Similar Industrial Waste Implementation Plan 2016-2022, the Packaging Agreement of 2018, and the Coalition Agreement of the Flemish Government 2019-2024. The Coalition Agreement further states that if the targets are not met, a deposit system or a reward system will be introduced.

In the hearing, OVAM further explained the figures and emphasised that 'no structural decrease in litter can be seen'. OVAM also raised questions about the current effectiveness of the Belgian recycling system. Particularly for plastic packaging, the recycling rate is not as high as in other countries.

Since the beginning of her term in office, Flemish Minister for Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) has repeatedly warned the industry that the Flemish Coalition Agreement 2019-2024 provides that Flanders will introduce a deposit on cans and bottles if the -20% by weight litter target is not met in 2022.

Building blocks for the deposit system

In the Committee, the experts spoke about the litter figures, the demands of their organisations, and what the building blocks of an effective deposit system are. Reference was made several times to practical experience in countries that already have a deposit on cans and bottles. A whole range of success factors emerged from this.

The system must be simple, convenient, customer-friendly, and accessible, emphasised experts from OVAM, Recycling Netwerk, and CanalItUp, among others. The Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities VVSG also made a strong plea that it is the role of the distribution sector to set up collection in supermarkets and points of sale, and that it is not the intention to use public space for this purpose. In addition, OVAM proposed a minimum framework with the obligation that medium and large beverage sales outlets of over 400 m2 net retail area function as collection channels.

The deposit amount must be a sufficiently high financial incentive, emphasised the speakers from Recycling Netwerk Benelux, BBL, Canal It Up, the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG), and OVAM.

Growing consensus

Remarkably, the representative of the Farmers' Union, together with his colleague from the Algemeen Boerensyndicaat, defended the introduction of the deposit system. Indeed, farmers and vegetable growers are faced with fragments of cans that are both a problem during harvesting and pose a threat to cattle health.

A broad majority of MPs from both majority and opposition support the introduction of a deposit.

Minister Demir declared on 14 October that she is putting the introduction of a deposit on the table of the Flemish government for a decision before the end of this year. Coalition partner CD&V and also the opposition parties Vooruit and Groen have long been proponents of deposits. Demir is also consulting with her Walloon and Brussels colleagues, Céline Tellier and Alain Maron (both Ecolo), to introduce deposits throughout Belgium.

Reaction of the packaging sector

In the Flemish Parliament, Fost Plus and trade federation Comeos were also given the floor. They continued to oppose the introduction of the deposit system involving the return of empty beverage packaging at points of sale. Fost Plus CEO Wim Geens proposed an 'integral approach' and a scanning system where citizens must scan their packaging every time before throwing it into the blue bag or a rubbish bin.

Many experts and MPs pointed out that at present, such a scanning system does not exist anywhere in the world. The necessary technology has yet to be researched and developed. For the research alone, the business sector previously stated that it would need until 2025, with no guarantee of further development of the required technology. Additionally, MPs raised questions about risks to privacy and fraud and doubted whether everyone has the necessary digital skills to work with QR codes.

According to Nathalie De Greve, Director of Sustainability at Comeos, a deposit system with return to stores is “extremely expensive, unfair, anti-social, and also undermines the success of the blue bag”.

Flemish Minister for Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) reacted that she disapproves of the negative attitude of trade federation Comeos towards collection at retail locations: “The delaying tactic, so transparent. Trying to escape responsibility as a sector is easy, but it won't work”; minister Zuhal Demir wrote on Twitter.

Committee Meeting 18 October 2022

Committee Meeting 19 October 2022