Campaign urges tourists in Amsterdam to return bottles, cans for deposit

A new English-language campaign aims to inform tourists visiting Amsterdam about the deposit system for cans and small plastic bottles. According to Statiegeld Nederland, 13 million tourists will visit the capital in August, many of whom are unfamiliar with the deposit system. To prevent bottles and cans from being thrown away, the organization has launched a campaign in English.

Notices in busy places in Amsterdam inform people in English that they can return bottles and cans for a deposit. The campaign can be seen above the baggage belts in the arrival hall at Schiphol, in supermarkets, at metro stations, and at Amsterdam Central Station. Information about the deposit system is also displayed on Rembrandtplein, in Vondelpark, and on Damrak.

“This is a great opportunity for us to recover a lot of deposit packaging,” said Jeroen Hillen, director of Statiegeld Nederland. “Also, with a view to Pride, which is currently underway and attracts many tourists every year, we hope to appeal to a new target group with this campaign who will now be aware of the importance of returning deposit packaging. We see this campaign as a trial in which we want to learn and ask tourists for feedback in order to further refine and expand the campaign.”

Because of Pride and the Canal Parade on Saturday, extra donation bins have been placed throughout the capital. There are also extra collection points at supermarkets, and cleaning teams are walking around to collect cans and bottles.