Private sector not collecting enough deposit packaging this year

The private sector is collecting more deposit packaging this year, but that is still not enough, expects Verpact, the organization responsible for collecting and recycling packaging on behalf of businesses. Every year, 90 percent of deposit bottles and cans must be returned, but Verpact is not achieving this.

The organization predicts that in 2024, people will return 78 percent of all plastic beverage bottles with a deposit to a vending machine or another collection point. The expectation is that 82 percent of cans will be returned. Verpact has been working on expanding the number of collection points for some time now and is investigating how it will be easier for consumers to return bottles and cans. For example, the organization wants to facilitate the return of damaged packaging and refunds by debit card.

Earlier this year, the Inspectorate for Environment and Transport (ILT) threatened Verpact with fines because the company did not meet the standard. The regulator called on the industry to make it easier and more attractive for consumers to return deposit packaging. With these measures, Verpact aims to meet the ILT's demands and avoid fines of over 300 million euros.

The ILT is calling for at least 5,400 additional collection points by 1 January 2027, which a spokesperson for Verpact says the organization expects to achieve. She refers to earlier plans to expand the number of collection points. Since January 1 last year, Verpact has set up over 1,100 new payment collection points. There are now more than 5,000 in total.

Verpact has also been asked by the regulator to investigate how damaged bottles can be taken back. The deposit machines now generally reject these, which upsets many people. The spokeswoman reports that the organization is now testing how deposit machines can be modified to accept containers with more dents. If this proves successful, the machines will be converted nationwide. The spokesperson does not know when this will happen, but she says that it will be as soon as possible.

In addition, Verpact was required by the regulator to look into increasing the deposit, but the organization again reports that it sees no need for an increase. This is partly because the waste bins would then be changed more frequently.