Majority of N-VA and Open VLD voters also want a deposit refund scheme

For one in two voters, litter also plays a role in their voting choice for the municipal elections in October. This is shown by an analysis of the responses given by 5,134 Belgians to a survey by GfK Social and Strategic Research.

Remarkably, a huge majority of N-VA and Open VLD voters are in favour of deposits. Yet, these two government parties have not yet expressed a positive view on deposits.

Among CD&V voters, 82 per cent are in favour of deposits, among sp.a voters 80 per cent, and among Groen 91 per cent. Across all Flemish political parties, a majority of their voters support the introduction of a deposit return scheme.

Furthermore, 87% of people believe that deposit return schemes can reduce litter in Belgium.

Local elections

More than one voter in two, 55 per cent, says that litter in his/her municipality plays an important to very important role in his/her voting choice for the municipal elections in October.

Flemish people therefore want the Flemish government and other regional governments to introduce deposit return schemes. The number of supporters has also risen sharply due to the public debate: from 66 per cent in the Test-Achats survey in March last year to 82 per cent today, a significant increase in just over a year.

For supermarkets and beverage producers, these figures are an important signal that a large majority of their customers want deposit return schemes.

For the political world, these figures show that this will be an important theme in the municipal elections on 14 October. The vast majority of their voters are in favour of deposit return schemes, across all party lines.

The introduction of a deposit return scheme as an integral part of the Waste Plan has been on the Flemish government's table since 18 May. Expectations are very high. It is now up to the Flemish government to take the decision to introduce deposits, concludes environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk Benelux from the survey.

Technical details of the survey

Respondents: 5,134 respondents

Survey duration: 30 May to 7 June 2018 inclusive

Weighting: The results of the study are weighted and representative by gender, age, province, and social class.

To determine voting behaviour, respondents were asked "Which political party did you vote for during the last regional elections (25 May 2014)?"

For one in two voters, litter also plays a role in their voting choice for the municipal elections in October. This is shown by an analysis of the responses given by 5,134 Belgians to a survey by GfK Social and Strategic Research.

Remarkably, among voters of N-VA and Open VLD, a very large majority are therefore in favour of deposits. Yet, these two government parties have not yet expressed a positive view on deposits.

Among voters of CD&V, 82 per cent are in favour of deposits, among voters of sp.a 80 per cent, and among Groen 91 per cent. Across all Flemish political parties, a majority of their voters are in favour of introducing deposit return schemes.

Furthermore, 87% of people believe that deposits in Belgium can reduce litter.

Local elections

More than one voter in two, 55 per cent, says that litter in his/her municipality plays an important to very important role in his/her voting choice for the municipal elections in October.

Flemish people therefore want the Flemish government and other regional governments to introduce deposit return schemes. The number of supporters has also risen sharply due to the public debate: from 66 per cent in the Test-Achats survey in March last year to 82 per cent today, a significant increase in just over a year.

For supermarkets and beverage producers, these figures are an important signal that a large majority of their customers want deposits.

For the political world, these figures show that this will be an important theme in the municipal elections on 14 October. The vast majority of their voters are in favour of deposit return schemes, across all party lines.

The introduction of deposits as an integral part of the Waste Plan has been on the Flemish government's table since 18 May. Expectations are very high. It is now up to the Flemish government to take the decision to introduce deposits, concludes environmental organisation Recycling Netwerk Benelux from the survey.

Respondents: 5,134 respondents

Survey duration: 30 May to 7 June 2018 inclusive

Weighting: The results of the study are weighted and representative by gender, age, province, and social class.

To determine voting behaviour, respondents were asked "Which political party did you vote for during the last regional elections (25 May 2014)?"