Recycling Netwerk joins the Deposit Alliance
From the largest women's organisation in Flanders to the surfers in the Netherlands, from sustainable Dutch companies to the Belgian consumers' association, from a large inter-municipal waste company to 10 environmental organisations from the Netherlands and Flanders. They are all asking for one simple, modest thing: a deposit on cans and plastic bottles. Broad public support Deposits encourage people to return their empty bottles […]
From the largest women's organisation in Flanders to surfers in the Netherlands, from sustainable Dutch companies to the Belgian consumers' association, from a large intermunicipal waste management company to 10 environmental organisations from the Netherlands and Flanders. They are all asking for one simple, modest thing: a deposit on cans and plastic bottles.
Broad societal support
Deposits encourage people to return their empty bottles and cans. This results in less litter, less animal suffering, lower clean-up costs for local authorities and better recycling of valuable materials.
It is therefore not only environmental organisations that would like to see a deposit introduced on all PET bottles and cans. Across the board, there are many supporters who are not yet visible but who are relevant in terms of exerting political influence. This broad societal support is made visible through the Deposit Alliance (Statiegeldalliantie).
Deposit discussion
The deposit discussion is currently raging in both the Netherlands and Flanders.
For the Dutch government, the moment of truth is approaching with the Roundtable Discussion on the Plastic Chain and Litter on 30 November and the General Consultation on the Circular Economy on 13 December 2017, with the agenda including the 'petition motion' Plastic Soup Surfer and the Study on deposits for small bottles and cans.
For the Flemish government, the moment of truth regarding deposits in 2018 is approaching. Flemish Environment Minister Joke Schauvliege (CD&V) has announced several times in the plenary session of the Flemish Parliament that she is in favour of a deposit and will make a decision in 2018.
By joining forces in the Deposit Alliance, the various alliance partners are calling on both governments to introduce a deposit on all PET bottles and cans in 2018.
Alliance partners
Below is an overview of the 21 environmental organisations, civil society organisations, companies, citizen initiatives, municipalities and intermunicipal waste management company that are affiliated with the Deposit Alliance at the time of its launch. All alliance partners and their reasons for advocating for deposits can be found at www.statiegeldalliantie.org.
Dutch alliance partners:
Stichting De Noordzee: dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of the North Sea.
Rotterdams Milieucentrum: makes Rotterdam a nature- and environmentally-friendly city.
Plastic Soup Surfer: artist-biologist-surfer who takes action to raise awareness of the problems caused by litter.
KRNWTR: social enterprise that makes drinking tap water more attractive with unique water coolers, beautiful bottles and a good story.
Plastic Soup Foundation: dedicated to preventing plastic soup through education, campaigns and projects.
Gemeente Weert: passed a motion in favour of deposits in November 2017.
De Groene Zaak: aims, together with its partners, to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy and society as fast as possible.
Zwerfinator: fights litter and plastic soup by picking up #zwerfie (litter selfies) and by giving guest lectures, workshops, teambuilding and presentations.
033 Zwerfafval Zat: citizen initiative with the goal of making Amersfoort the first litter-free city in the Netherlands.
De Gezonde Stad: dedicated to a greener, cleaner and smarter Amsterdam.
Milieucentrum Utrecht: makes Utrecht a nature- and environmentally-friendly city.
GoedeWaar.nl: consumer organisation dedicated to sustainable consumption, with attention to humans, animals and the environment.
De Nieuwe Graanschuur: an organic, low-packaging shop in Amersfoort that prioritises organic products from local growers.
Flemish alliance partners:
Test Aankoop/Test Achats: the consumer organisation of Belgium with 350,000 members.
KVLV, Vrouwen met vaart: the largest women's organisation in Flanders with 90,000 members.
Bond Beter Leefmilieu: network organisation of the Flemish environmental movement that, together with organisations, citizens, governments and businesses, makes the transition to a sustainable, renewable society.
Limburg.net: responsible for waste prevention and collection in the 45 municipalities of the province of Limburg and the city of Diest.
Proper Strand Lopers: a group of dedicated volunteers who clean up the beach in their spare time.
Arbeid & Milieu: partnership between Flemish trade unions and the environmental movement for a fair green economy.
Conscious Crew: Antwerp initiative contributing to a sustainable and just society.
Recycling Netwerk Benelux, an environmental organisation committed to a better environment in the Netherlands and Belgium through proper care of waste and raw materials, initiated the creation of the alliance and is, of course, an alliance partner itself.
More info:
Website: statiegeldalliantie.org
This page is automatically translated. A human review will follow soon.
