Between now and the end of 2022, the Netherlands is introducing not one, but two new deposit systems. One for cans and one for small single-use plastic bottles.
The goal? Increase recycling and reduce the amount of cans and bottles that end up as litter in our environment. Double huzzah. While we prefer the ‘let’s not buy single-use bottles and cans in the first place’-approach, we obviously support attempts to stop (plastic) waste from polluting our oceans. So here’s what’s happening.
How will the deposit refund system work?
Last month, the Dutch government announced plans to introduce a 15 eurocent (minimum) deposit on cans, starting December 31st 2022. Meaning you’ll pay a little extra when you buy the can, which you get back when you return it. Kind of like the deposit your questionable landlord asked you to put down on your rental apartment. Except cheaper and without the arguments over getting it back. Starting on the 1st of July this year, the same will happen for small single-use plastic bottles. Buy it in the shop, pay a 15-cent deposit, return the bottle, get your deposit back.
Why are we changing the current system?
According to Dutch government estimates, 150 million cans end up in the environment in the Netherlands every year. That’s 411,000 a day. Or in other words: ridiculous. Similarly, about 100 million small single-use plastic bottles are left as litter each year. Carried by wind and water, many of those eventually end up in our oceans, where they become part of the plastic soup.
Additionally, even the cans and single-use plastic bottles we neatly put in the (recycling) bin, aren’t always recycled. Instead, plastics and cans collected with general waste are largely burnt and so is plastic that was collected for recycling but doesn’t live up to the necessary recycling standards. Finally, plastic bottles that are recycled often end up as a different, lower grade of plastic product because they’re collected with other types of plastic which reduces the quality.
Will the deposit system help fight plastic pollution?
Based on research, the government expects that introducing a deposit on cans and a deposit on small single-use plastic bottles will result in 70 to 90% less of them littering the environment. If true, that’s obviously a pretty big win. Plus, since the manufacturers get a ‘clean’ supply of used cans and bottles through the return system, more of them can be recycled into actual cans and bottles –without loss of quality.
Alternatives to single-use products
We’re very much fan of any efforts to stop plastic from polluting our environment. But if we’re being honest, we hope you won’t be returning any single-use plastic water bottles to the shop for recycling. Why? Because hopefully, you won’t buy them in the first place. Instead, we envision you drinking delicious tap water from your reusable Dopper bottle. A sustainable water bottle you can use again and again. And again. Saving our oceans from plastic pollution with every sip you take. You hero.