Raising deposit fees of plastic bottles to €1 will hardly raise recycling percentages

Accountancy and consultancy firm PwC has calculated that the recycling percentage would increase by one percentage point if the deposit on small bottles is increased from 15 to 25 cents. If there were to be a 50 cent deposit on small bottles and 1 euro on large bottles instead of 25 cents, the percentage of collected bottles would only increase by four percentage points, said Verpact, who are responsible for collection and recycling on behalf of the business community and is conducting research into the deposit fees.
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The goal is for 90 percent of bottles and cans with a deposit to be handed in, but Verpact has never reached this target. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) is threatening to fine the organization because of this and asked Verpact to look into the deposit fees.

Verpact reported earlier that they expect 78 percent of all plastic drinking bottles with a deposit to be recycled in 2024. Raising the deposit fees has a “minimal impact” on the percentage of bottles and cans that are recycled, said the organization.

The most important aspect of the research, according to Verpact, is that having a recycling point nearby is the most important motivation for people to hand in their bottles and cans. The organization is planning on adding a lot more recycling points to increase the percentage that is being recycled.

This insight "confirms that the chosen approach of significantly expanding the number of collection points is the right one," said Verpact.

The organization also pointed out that raising the deposit fees was not necessary in other countries in Europe in order to reach the target of 90 percent recycling of all deposit packages. Other countries that have the same deposit fees for small and larger bottles do reach the 90 percent mark, Verpact said.

In addition, Verpact says that a higher deposit amount is not in proportion to the additional costs and negative consequences of this. If there were a higher deposit on bottles and cans, the risk of public waste bins being broken open would increase.

A spokesperson for the ILT has said that the regulator is studying Verpact’s research. She could not say anything about eventual measures as a result of the study. “We have not gotten to this point yet.”