Flemish waste policy: wishful thinking on a midsummer night

While eight out of ten Flemings and half of the Flemish municipalities are asking to introduce a deposit system, the Flemish Government is holding off for the time being. Accompanied by trumpet blasts from supermarkets and beverage producers. It has once again postponed the decision on the introduction of a deposit scheme.

As is custom, the government presented its new Waste Plan as progressive and very important. A collection and recycling rate of 90% for beverage packaging by 2022, and if not, high fines for companies. Actually, that sounds pretty good, right?

Business as usual

But, how much beverage packaging is actually recycled today? We did the analysis ourselves based on research by OVAM and professional research agencies. This shows that only 61 to 67% of plastic bottles are effectively recycled. Of the cans, only 65 per cent, according to Recover, a partnership of municipalities and waste management associations.

Every year, Fost Plus reports new recycling figures on behalf of the packaging industry. For 2017, the waste manager claims a recycling rate of 87.7% for PET bottles, 91% for beverage cartons and 102% for metal packaging including cans. Overestimations of reality. But the policy is structured in such a way that the industry's self-reporting is leading in determining the official recycling rate.

The tough target of 90% set by Bourgeois and co therefore seems a big step forward, but according to the companies in 2018, it is already a reality. Companies will happily stick to business-as-usual.

Thinking that beverage producers and supermarkets will reduce litter just as effectively without a deposit scheme is naive. So what exactly is going to change between now and 2023? We search in vain in the Waste Plan for a target to reduce litter. Missed opportunity.

We read that the Flemish government is going to ban the free distribution of plastic bags. But that had already been decided at European level. In fact, Wallonia and Brussels are already one step ahead. They have categorically banned plastic bags. Flanders is doing no more than what is minimally required.

From the European Commission to the Flemish municipalities

This is while a worldwide dynamic is underway. The European Commission is working on a ban on single-use plastic products. Even for countries that do not yet recycle anything, it demands 90 per cent selective collection of bottles and cans, which in practice is only possible through a deposit scheme. The Conservative government of the United Kingdom is working on this. Even Coca-Cola published 11 principles for a good deposit system on the British island this week.

And what is Flanders doing? Faced with the vast amount of litter, most local policymakers have already understood the urgency. 168 Flemish municipalities, together with one hundred Flemish organisations, are asking for a deposit scheme to be introduced quickly. If an overwhelming majority of the population wants an environmental measure, it is difficult to understand why they have to wait five years for it.

Meanwhile, litter will not decrease in the coming months and years. With rising consumption on the go, we will continue to see cans and bottles in the verge. The annual clean-up bill of 164 million euros continues to rise. This happens in front of everyone's front door. The look of the municipality, the pollution of our beaches, these are things in everyone's living environment.

As long as litter blemishes streets, fields and beaches, Flemings will continue to ask for effective solutions such as a deposit system. As long as pieces of cans make cows sick, farmers will stir. The topic will therefore lead to fascinating debates in the campaigns for the municipal councils and the next Flemish government.

Rob Buurman & Tom Zoete

The newspaper De Morgen published this opinion piece on 21 July.

While eight out of ten Flemings and half of the Flemish municipalities are asking to introduce a deposit scheme, the Flemish government is holding off for the time being. Accompanied by trumpet blasts from supermarkets and beverage producers. It has once again postponed the decision on the introduction of a deposit system.

As is custom, the government presented its new Waste Plan as progressive and very important. A collection and recycling rate of 90% for beverage packaging by 2022, and if not, high fines for companies. Actually, that sounds pretty good, right?

Business as usual

But, how much beverage packaging is actually recycled today? We did the analysis ourselves based on research by OVAM and professional research agencies. This shows that only 61 to 67% of plastic bottles are effectively recycled. Of the cans, only 65 per cent, according to Recover, a partnership of municipalities and waste management associations.

Every year, Fost Plus reports new recycling figures on behalf of the packaging industry. For 2017, the waste manager claims a recycling rate of 87.7% for PET bottles, 91% for beverage cartons and 102% for metal packaging including cans. Overestimations of reality. But the policy is structured in such a way that the industry's self-reporting is leading in determining the official recycling rate.

The tough target of 90% set by Bourgeois and co therefore seems a big step forward, but according to the companies in 2018, it is already a reality. Companies will happily stick to business-as-usual.

Thinking that beverage producers and supermarkets will reduce litter just as effectively without a deposit scheme is naive. So what exactly is going to change between now and 2023? We search in vain in the Waste Plan for a target to reduce litter. Missed opportunity.

We read that the Flemish government is going to ban the free distribution of plastic bags. But that had already been decided at European level. In fact, Wallonia and Brussels are already one step ahead. They have categorically banned plastic bags. Flanders is doing no more than what is minimally required.

From the European Commissionto the Flemish municipalities

This is while a worldwide dynamic is underway. The European Commission is working on a ban on single-use plastic products. Even for countries that do not yet recycle anything, it demands 90 per cent selective collection of bottles and cans, which in practice is only possible through a deposit scheme. The Conservative government of the United Kingdom is working on this. Even Coca-Cola published 11 principles for a good deposit system on the British island this week.

And what is Flanders doing? Faced with the vast amount of litter, most local policymakers have already understood the urgency. 168 Flemish municipalities, together with one hundred Flemish organisations, are asking to introduce a deposit scheme quickly. If an overwhelming majority of the population wants an environmental measure, it is difficult to understand why they have to wait five years for it.

Meanwhile, litter will not decrease in the coming months and years. With rising consumption on the go, we will continue to see cans and bottles in the verge. The annual clean-up bill of 164 million euros continues to rise. This happens in front of everyone's front door. The look of the municipality, the pollution of our beaches, these are things in everyone's living environment.

As long as litter blemishes streets, fields and beaches, Flemings will continue to ask for effective solutions such as a deposit system. As long as pieces of cans make cows sick, farmers will stir. The topic will therefore lead to fascinating debates in the campaigns for the municipal councils and the next Flemish government.

Rob Buurman & Tom Zoete

The newspaper De Morgen published this opinion piece on 21 July.