Global Clean Planet call: introduce a deposit system and stop pollution

In the Netherlands, Recycling Netwerk Benelux, the Plastic Soup Foundation and GoClean De Liemers are participating together in the action. The life-sized letters Clean Planet – made from cans found in litter – appeared on the banks of the Nederrijn near Arnhem.

This action draws attention to global environmental pollution caused by beverage packaging. Many of these end up in our environment. Deposit return schemes are a proven and effective measure to combat this. Almost all Dutch municipalities, all twelve provinces, all 21 water boards and 190 companies within the Deposit Alliance (Statiegeldalliantie) have been calling for some time for the expansion of deposits in the Netherlands to cans and small plastic bottles.

The European Union wants to tackle beverage packaging in litter effectively. The new European directive on single-use plastic provides that within ten years, 90 percent of plastic bottles must be selectively collected in all member states. In practice, this means introducing a deposit scheme on plastic bottles in all EU countries, as such high collection rates can only be achieved with a deposit system.

In the Netherlands, environmental organisations are specifically drawing attention to deposits on cans with this campaign. They request the government to include these in the legislative process for deposit systems. Together with bottles, cans generally make up 40 percent of litter. During World Cleanup Day in September 2018, cans were in second place and bottles in third place of the items found, according to research by the Plastic Soup Foundation. Cans pose a danger to animals, and especially to cows. If a discarded can is mown along with the grass, sharp pieces end up in the cattle feed. This leads to internal bleeding and perforated intestines in cows, from which they can die.

Deposit systems are already effective in forty countries in combating plastic bottles and cans in litter. The share of large bottles in litter is thereby reduced by 70 to 90 percent, as calculated by the research bureau CE Delft on behalf of the Dutch government.

Together, we are asking governments worldwide to tackle litter with deposit schemes, conclude Recycling Netwerk Benelux, Plastic Soup Foundation, GoClean de Liemers and Proper Strand Lopers.

For questions, please contact:

Jeroen Dagevos, Plastic Soup Foundation

In the Netherlands, Recycling Netwerk Benelux, the Plastic Soup Foundation and GoClean De Liemers are participating together in the action. The life-sized letters Clean Planet – made from cans found in litter – appeared on the banks of the Nederrijn near Arnhem.

This action draws attention to global environmental pollution caused by beverage packaging. Many of these end up in our environment. Deposit return schemes are a proven and effective measure to combat this. Almost all Dutch municipalities, all twelve provinces, all 21 water boards and 190 companies within the Deposit Alliance (Statiegeldalliantie) have been calling for some time for the expansion of deposits in the Netherlands to cans and small plastic bottles.

The European Union wants to tackle beverage packaging in litter effectively. The new European directive on single-use plastic provides that within ten years, 90 percent of plastic bottles must be selectively collected in all member states. In practice, this means introducing a deposit scheme on plastic bottles in all EU countries, as such high collection rates can only be achieved with a deposit system.

In the Netherlands, environmental organisations are specifically drawing attention to deposits on cans with this campaign. They request the government to include these in the legislative process for deposit systems. Together with bottles, cans generally make up 40 percent of litter. During World Cleanup Day in September 2018, cans were in second place and bottles in third place of the items found, according to research by the Plastic Soup Foundation. Cans pose a danger to animals, and especially to cows. If a discarded can is mown along with the grass, sharp pieces end up in the cattle feed. This leads to internal bleeding and perforated intestines in cows, from which they can die.

Deposit systems are already effective in forty countries in combating plastic bottles and cans in litter. The share of large bottles in litter is thereby reduced by 70 to 90 percent, as calculated by the research bureau CE Delft on behalf of the Dutch government.

Together, we are asking governments worldwide to tackle litter with deposit schemes, conclude Recycling Netwerk Benelux, Plastic Soup Foundation, GoClean de Liemers and Proper Strand Lopers.

For questions, please contact:

Jeroen Dagevos, Plastic Soup Foundation

Tom Zoete, Recycling Netwerk Benelux

Peggy Blaauw, GoClean de Liemers: +31 615 896 868

Visuals

The visuals (photos and videos), including those of the Dutch location and the countries that follow, can be found in the following Dropbox folder:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6u3ijkzc7zy6lr3/AAD-8Sucs9-fCOISqlHcRG9qa?dl=0.

Participating countries Clean Planet action

Below is a list of all participating countries and organisations, arranged by continent.

Australasia: