1 year of deposit on bottles: where do we stand?

Last year on 1 July, we celebrated the introduction of deposits together with the Statiegeldalliantie (Deposit Alliance) and the then State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, Stientje van Veldhoven, on the beach of Scheveningen (photo). The deposit on plastic bottles was very well received by society at large. After six months, Rijkswaterstaat (the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management) already observed a sharp decline in the number of bottles in nature. So deposits work. However, the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, Vivianne Heijnen, must tighten the legislation to exploit the full potential of deposits. And not wait for an evaluation in 2024 to do so. Deposits quickly ensure far fewer bottles in the environment The decline in the number of plastic bottles in litter is promising. Measurements by Rijkswaterstaat and 'Zwerfinator' Dirk Groot show that the number of plastic bottles in nature had already decreased by 41% to 70% just 6 months after introduction. Deposits therefore achieve rapid results. It is much more effective than all the alternative plans put forward by the business community over the past decades. Where the business community promised results for decades, deposits are now delivering. Rijkswaterstaat will shortly release new litter measurements after 12 months. Better legislation for better results Based on litter measurements abroad, CE Delft concluded in 2017 that deposits should reduce the number of bottles in Dutch litter by 70% to 90%. But that depends on how smartly the deposit system is designed. Successful deposit systems share common characteristics that are regulated in legislation: a sufficiently high deposit amount, a dense network of return points where you can get your deposit back, and a straightforward setup without exceptions that is easy for the consumer to understand. In the 2020 deposit decree, the cabinet included too few rules and frameworks to guarantee a good setup of the deposit system. It is an example of environmental legislation where too much is left to the business community. To exploit the full potential of deposits and achieve the European target of 90% separate collection for all plastic bottles, politicians must take control and draft better legislation. Right to deposit return There is still a whole range of sales outlets that do sell plastic bottles with a deposit, but do not return the deposit to the consumer. Some examples include: cinemas such as Pathé, fast-food chain McDonalds, shops like AH to go, Hema, Kruidvat and Action, La Place, and some museums, theatres, universities and petrol stations. This means there are fewer collection points in the Netherlands than if a legal obligation to take back bottles had been established for sales outlets. This makes it more difficult for consumers to get their deposit back, undermining the effectiveness of the deposit system. We therefore request that the State Secretary writes a right to deposit return into the legislation. So that you get your deposit back at every sales outlet. In the media Trouw, One year of deposits on small bottles: fewer bottles in verges and bushes, 1 July 2022 1Limburg, Less litter due to introduction of deposits on small bottles, 1 July 2022 NOS, After a year of deposits on bottles, 1 July 2022 Collection by Statiegeld Nederland remains substandard According to Statiegeld Nederland, in the first 6 months after introduction, about 70% of all plastic bottles with a deposit were returned. This percentage also includes large bottles, of which more than 90% have been collected for years. Small plastic bottles are therefore still lagging far behind. Statiegeld Nederland will have to collect more than 90% of deposit bottles to comply with the European directive. After all, this requires that 90% of all plastic beverage bottles, including those without a deposit, must be collected separately. Tightening up This tightening up must also include increasing the minimum deposit amount and introducing deposits on beverage cartons and all plastic bottles, without exception based on volume. At present, deposits are not yet mandatory for juice and dairy bottles. After years of political debate, the previous cabinet finally chose the environment by introducing deposits on plastic bottles. It is now crucial that the current cabinet ensures the intended results are achieved. We call on the State Secretary to tighten the legislation now. And not wait for the planned evaluation of the deposit system in 2024. Deposits on cans After 1 year of deposits on plastic bottles, there are far fewer in nature. However, there are still a gigantic number of cans without deposits lying around. We are therefore looking forward hopefully to the start of deposits on cans on 31 December this year. The business community says it is running out of time. It unilaterally announced that they are going to exceed that statutory introduction date. In

Last year on 1 July, we celebrated the introduction of deposits together with the Statiegeldalliantie (Deposit Alliance) and the then State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, Stientje van Veldhoven, on the beach of Scheveningen (photo). The deposit on plastic bottles was very well received by society at large.

After six months, Rijkswaterstaat already observed a sharp decline in the number of bottles in nature. So deposits work. However, the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, Vivianne Heijnen, must tighten the legislation to exploit the full potential of deposits. And not wait for an evaluation in 2024 to do so.

Deposits quickly ensure far fewer bottles in the environment

The decline in the number of plastic bottles in litter is promising. Measurements by Rijkswaterstaat and 'Zwerfinator' Dirk Groot show that the number of plastic bottles in nature already after 6 months from introduction had decreased by 41% to 70%. Deposits therefore achieve rapid results. It is much more effective than all the alternative plans put forward by the business community over the past decades. Where the business community promised results for decades, deposits are now delivering. Rijkswaterstaat will shortly release new litter measurements after 12 months.

Better legislation for better results

Based on litter measurements abroad, CE Delft concluded in 2017 that deposits should reduce the number of bottles in Dutch litter by 70% to 90%. But that depends on how smartly the deposit system is designed. Successful deposit systems share common characteristics that are regulated in legislation: a sufficiently high deposit amount, a dense network of return points where you can get your deposit back, and a straightforward setup without exceptions that is easy for the consumer to understand.

In the 2020 deposit decree, the cabinet included too few rules and frameworks to guarantee a good setup of the deposit system. It is an example of environmental legislation where too much is left to the business community. To exploit the full potential of deposits and achieve the European target of 90% separate collection for all plastic bottles, politicians must take control and draft better legislation.

Right to deposit return

There is still a whole range of sales outlets that do sell plastic bottles with a deposit, but do not return the deposit to the consumer. Some examples include: cinemas such as Pathé, fast-food chain McDonalds, shops like AH to go, Hema, Kruidvat and Action, La Place, and some museums, theatres, universities and petrol stations.

This means there are fewer collection points in the Netherlands than if a legal obligation to take back bottles had been established for sales outlets. This makes it more difficult for consumers to get their deposit back, undermining the effectiveness of the deposit system. We therefore request that the State Secretary writes a right to deposit return into the legislation. So that you get your deposit back at every sales outlet.

In the media Trouw, One year of deposits on small bottles: fewer bottles in verges and bushes, 1 Jul 1Limburg, Less litter due to introduction of deposits on small bottles, 1 Jul NOS, After a year of deposits on bottles, 1 Jul

Collection by Statiegeld Nederland remains substandard

According to Statiegeld Nederland, in the first 6 months after introduction, about 70% of all plastic bottles with a deposit were returned. This percentage also includes large bottles, of which more than 90% have been collected for years. Small plastic bottles are therefore still lagging far behind. Statiegeld Nederland will have to collect more than 90% of deposit bottles to comply with the European directive. After all, this requires that 90% of all plastic beverage bottles, including those without a deposit, must be collected separately.

Tightening up

In this tightening up, increasing the minimum deposit amount and introducing deposits on beverage cartons and all plastic bottles, without exception based on volume, must also be included. At present, deposits are not yet mandatory for juice and dairy bottles.

After years of political debate, the previous cabinet finally chose the environment by introducing deposits on plastic bottles. It is now crucial that the current cabinet ensures the intended results are achieved. We call on the State Secretary to tighten the legislation now. And not wait for the planned evaluation of the deposit system in 2024.

Deposits on cans

After 1 year of deposits on plastic bottles, there are far fewer in nature. However, there are still a gigantic number of cans without deposits lying around. We are therefore looking forward hopefully to the start of deposits on cans on 31 December this year. The business community says it is running out of time. It unilaterally announced that they are going to exceed that statutory introduction date. In most European countries, the business community is given an implementation period of 1 year. Dutch businesses have had 22 months for the cans. State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen has rightly declared to the House of Representatives that the start date is fixed at 31 December 2022 and that companies that do not respect the deadline risk a penalty payment.