The 6 major differences between Fost Plus’s “return premium” and a deposit refund system

1.1. Be WaPP return reward system

In 24 Walloon municipalities, a pilot project was run for the return reward system, organised by Be WaPP, an ASBL (non-profit organisation) founded by Fost Plus, Fevia Wallonie and Comeos. People can hand in cans they have picked up from nature. For every 100 cans handed in, a voucher of 5 euros is issued.

To qualify for the voucher, a person must first go to a website to verify their identity and register. When people hand in their cans at a collection point, they receive a receipt with an encrypted code. After 24 hours of issue and within 30 days, this code must be entered into the personal account on the website, after which the number of cans will appear on the personal counter.

The website states that people receive 5 euro cents for an handed-in can, but only vouchers are issued. To qualify for a voucher, a person must first have handed in 100 cans. Because the vouchers of 5 euros each are sent by post, and a minimum of 2 vouchers is imposed for this by Be WaPP, people actually only receive their reward after handing in at least 200 cans. Only at the end of the project did people who were entitled to 1 voucher also receive it by post. In addition to this minimum number, a maximum number has also been established: if someone hands in more than 200 cans per month, they must justify themselves, and Be WaPP then assesses whether or not they will issue the voucher. The vouchers are dispatched once a week.

The reward in the form of a voucher has not been paid previously by the consumer (in this it differs from a deposit), which is why it is referred to as a reward system.

The 5 euro vouchers can then be spent at a select number of shops in the same municipality. The 'reward' is therefore in reality a discount that people receive on another purchase. 

For each municipality, there is one collection point, for example at the recycling centre or at a municipal office. Only residents of the municipality concerned were allowed to hand in cans for a voucher. Self-purchased cans were not allowed to be handed in to this return reward system. It has not been made public whether, and if so how, checks were carried out to ensure that the cans had actually been picked up from the environment.

1.2. Deposit return system

In a deposit return system, the consumer buys a beverage container at a point of sale and pays a deposit amount on top of the purchase price, often between 10 and 25 euro cents. Upon returning the purchased beverage container or one found in litter, the consumer receives the deposit amount back. This can be done at a reverse vending machine or manually with a cashier.

Any amount is paid out, regardless of the number of beverage containers returned.

The return of the beverage container and the receipt of the deposit take place in the same place and at the same time.

At a reverse vending machine, people get a receipt with which they can have this amount deducted from new purchases at the cash register or paid out in cash. In many cases, reverse vending machine options also allow the deposit amount to be donated to a charity or local organisation. In the case of manual collection, people receive the deposit amount back directly in cash.

There are many return points, usually all major outlets where beverages are bought, such as supermarkets, kiosks, petrol stations. These are locations that consumers visit regularly. The place where the beverage container was bought or found or the citizen's place of residence has no bearing on where the beverage container can be returned. Registration, identification or logging in via a website is not required.

1.3. Differences between Fost Plus "return reward" and deposit return systems

In the table below, we compare the deposit return system with the Be WaPP return reward system. This shows that the Be Wapp return reward system is inferior to a deposit return system on all fronts and will never be a fully-fledged alternative.

You can also download this image in PDF format

1.1. Be WaPP return reward system

In 24 Walloon municipalities, a pilot project was run for the return reward system, organised by Be WaPP, an ASBL founded by Fost Plus, Fevia Wallonie and Comeos. People can hand in cans they have picked up from nature. For every 100 cans handed in, a voucher of 5 euros is issued.

To qualify for the voucher, a person must first go to a website to verify their identity and register. When people hand in their cans at a collection point, they receive a receipt with an encrypted code. After 24 hours of issue and within 30 days, this code must be entered into the personal account on the website, after which the number of cans will appear on the personal counter.

The website states that people receive 5 euro cents for an handed-in can, but only vouchers are issued. To qualify for a voucher, a person must first have handed in 100 cans. Because the vouchers of 5 euros each are sent by post, and a minimum of 2 vouchers is imposed for this by Be WaPP, people actually only receive their reward after handing in at least 200 cans. Only at the end of the project did people who were entitled to 1 voucher also receive it by post. In addition to this minimum number, a maximum number has also been established: if someone hands in more than 200 cans per month, they must justify themselves, and Be WaPP then assesses whether or not they will issue the voucher. The vouchers are dispatched once a week.

The reward in the form of a voucher has not been paid previously by the consumer (in this it differs from a deposit), which is why it is referred to as a reward system.

The 5 euro vouchers can then be spent at a select number of shops in the same municipality. The 'reward' is therefore in reality a discount that people receive on another purchase.

For each municipality, there is one collection point, for example at the recycling centre or at a municipal office. Only residents of the municipality concerned were allowed to hand in cans for a voucher. Self-purchased cans were not allowed to be handed in to this return reward system. It has not been made public whether, and if so how, checks were carried out to ensure that the cans had actually been picked up from the environment.

1.2. Deposit return system

In a deposit return system, the consumer buys a beverage container at a point of sale and pays a deposit amount on top of the purchase price, often between 10 and 25 euro cents. Upon returning the purchased beverage container or one found in litter, the consumer receives the deposit amount back. This can be done at a reverse vending machine or manually with a cashier.

Any amount is paid out, regardless of the number of beverage containers returned.

The return of the beverage container and the receipt of the deposit take place in the same place and at the same time.

At a reverse vending machine, people get a receipt with which they can have this amount deducted from new purchases at the cash register or paid out in cash. In many cases, reverse vending machine options also allow the deposit amount to be donated to a charity or local organisation. In the case of manual collection, people receive the deposit amount back directly in cash.

There are many return points, usually all major outlets where beverages are bought, such as supermarkets, kiosks, petrol stations. These are locations that consumers visit regularly. The place where the beverage container was bought or found or the citizen's place of residence has no bearing on where the beverage container can be returned. Registration, identification or logging in via a website is not required.

1.3. Differences between Fost Plus "return reward" and deposit return systems

In the table below, we compare the deposit system with the Be WaPP return reward system. This shows that the Be Wapp return reward system is inferior to a deposit return system on all fronts and will never be a fully-fledged alternative.

You can also download this image in PDF format