More plastic bottles returned for deposit; Target still far out of sight

The collection of plastic drinking bottles and cans is improving in the Netherlands, but the intended target has not been reached yet. Verpact, the organization that is responsible for the collection and recycling of the business world, reported that 77 percent of all plastic drinking bottles were collected last year as well as 84 percent of cans. However, by law, the beverage industry must collect at least 90 percent of the bottles and cans sold, but that target has never been achieved.

Verpact added that although the collection of bottles containing dairy products or juices is not compensated, they do count towards the legal target. Around 12 percent of the planting drinking bottles are dairy products, like large milk bottles.

"This means that even if all deposit bottles and containers were returned, the collection target of 90 percent cannot be achieved at this time," says Verpact, which is pushing for a "fair target.”

The organization is also pushing for more collection points to make the recycling of the bottles easier. Almost 900 places for people to hand in their plastic bottles and cans for money were added last year. Verpact said that trying to get new locations to become a collection point willingly remains a challenge.

This is why the organization is pleading for a “targeted collection obligation” for locations starting from a certain number of cans and bottles sold or from a certain number of visitors or sales floor space.

“Our mission is a lengthy one as changing people’s behavior takes time,” said Verpact’s Chair of the Board, Hester Klein Lankhorst. She said that she was proud of the steps that have already been taken. “We are in a crucial phase in which we need raw materials desperately. A target obligation for collection could make the difference when it comes to further growth.”

The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) tried to force improvements with the threat of fines because the collection target was not being reached.

The ILT wanted producers and importers of soft drinks, for example, to make it easier and more attractive for consumers to return plastic drink bottles. For example, they feel an increase in the deposit fee is a possibility to achieve this. Verpact later said that a higher deposit amount hardly ensures that people return them much more often.