You can hand in at supermarkets, at train stations, at roadside petrol stations and via caterers. This measure should lead to much less plastic litter. Producers of soft drink and water bottles are responsible for introducing the deposit system. Hospitality and small businesses are exempt from the obligation to collect small plastic bottles.
Van Veldhoven: “The corona crisis is the top priority. At the same time, I will continue to work in other areas for a healthy and clean future. Including combating plastic soup and litter. It takes about a year to prepare, so we are now giving clarity to all parties. ”
Counteract plastic soup
This decision brings an end to 20 years of discussion about deposits on plastic bottles. Van Veldhoven used a two-track approach in which the goal (less litter) instead of the means (deposit) was put first. First, agreements were made in 2018 with the business community and the VNG to reduce the number of small plastic bottles that end up in the environment by 70-90%. If this was not achieved, a deposit would be introduced. That is now the case. By introducing deposits on small plastic bottles, van Veldhoven wants to keep the plastic bottles out of our environment. Every year, about 900 million small plastic bottles are sold, about 100 million of which end up in the environment. It is estimated that 90% of the plastic bottles, both small and large, are returned with this deposit system.
Hospitality and small businesses exempt
The bottles can be returned to some 12,000 sellers: in supermarkets (> 200 m2), via caterers, at train stations with manned points of sale and at large petrol stations along the road. Hospitality and small businesses are excluded from the obligation to collect small bottles. Schools and sports associations can also voluntarily opt for a collection point. Producers are responsible for the new deposit system and bear the costs thereof. An implementing organization is being set up to help all collectors roll out the deposit system in the coming year. For example, new collection machines must be introduced, devices that flatten the bottles and transport and sorting must be arranged. All corona precautions are of course observed.
Cans
The next step taken by Veldhoven against litter is to reduce the number of cans in the environment. Van Veldhoven uses a similar approach as with bottles. In the autumn of 2021, 70-90% fewer cans in the litter fall must have been realized. If that does not work, deposit on cans will follow. Van Veldhoven: “I think that the number of cans in litter should decrease sharply, either clockwise or counterclockwise. I am discussing this with the business community and the VNG. We have now started preparing the laws and regulations for a deposit on cans, so that this is ready if we proceed to introduce a deposit on cans. ” A decision will be made in the autumn of 2021. In the meantime, the government is launching a joint campaign with the business community to combat litter.
