Majority of voters of the 4 government parties support expansion of deposit return scheme
83 percent of the voters who voted for the CDA in the national general election are currently in favour of the expansion of the deposit scheme. Among D66 voters and ChristenUnie voters, this is 85% in both cases. Even 79 percent of VVD voters, a party which has not yet spoken out in favour of deposits, want […]
83 per cent of voters who voted for the CDA in the national House of Representatives election are currently in favour of expanding deposit schemes. Among D66 voters and ChristenUnie voters, this is 85% in both cases. Even of the voters of the VVD, which has not yet spoken out in favour of deposits, 79 per cent want the deposit scheme expanded to small plastic bottles and cans.
This is shown by the responses of almost 25,000 respondents in a GfK study. Voting behavior was recorded immediately after the 2017 House of Representatives election. The questions regarding the expansion of the deposit scheme were asked in the period from 8 February to 21 February 2018.
These figures from GfK are in line with the figures published by EenVandaag based on a survey of their Opinion Panel.
The expansion of the deposit scheme to all bottles and cans is on the agenda of the General Consultation on circular economy in the House of Representatives, which will take place on 15 March.
“Remarkably, even among the government parties that have not yet spoken out or have taken positions against deposit schemes, a very large majority of their voters is in favour of deposits,” analyses director Rob Buurman of environmental organisation Recycling Network.
Among the electorate of the opposition parties too, a majority is always in favour of introducing deposit schemes on cans and bottles: 90% among GroenLinks voters, 84% for SP, 88% for PvdA and 76% for PVV.
“It is therefore abundantly clear that the majority of Dutch people who want deposits exists across all party lines. Indeed, for all parties running nationally in the municipal elections, a large majority of their voters is in favour of deposit schemes,” states Rob Buurman.
Litter factor for vote choice in municipal elections
Moreover, litter in municipalities plays an important role in the vote choice for a large group (38 per cent) of voters for the municipal elections of 21 March. Voters who voted for the four parties in the Rutte III cabinet find the approach to litter an important factor in their vote choice for the local elections: for VVD this is 32%, for CDA 36%, for D66 37% and for ChristenUnie 33%.
General Consultation House of Representatives on 15 March
The average percentage of 81% supporters for deposit expansion across all parties is also in line with previous surveys on deposit schemes.
Deposits reduce the volume of bottles and cans in nature by 70 to 90 per cent. This is necessary because the fight against litter costs municipalities millions, it is needed for cleaner neighbourhoods, healthy cows and a plastic-free North Sea.
“The people who voted for parties in the Rutte cabinet also find the fight against litter important and a majority are asking for the expansion of the deposit scheme. We therefore see no reason at all for the government and the House of Representatives to wait any longer to vote in favour of expanding the deposit scheme to all bottles and cans. The Rutte cabinet promised to be the greenest government ever. Expectations for the General Consultation on 15 March are very high,” concludes director Rob Buurman of Recycling Network.
The results of the study are weighted and representative of gender, age, education, region and household size.
Rob Buurman, director Recycling Network
Press contact: Tom Zoete, communications Recycling Network
This page is automatically translated. A human review will follow soon.
