Junior environment minister Wilma Mansveld has pledged to carry out research into the amount of litter in the Netherlands.

Mansveld was under fire in parliament on Wednesday about the government’s plans to scrap deposits on large plastic bottles. Those plans have been delayed by a year because an alternative recycling and collection system has not yet been put together.

Mansveld also promised to talk to industry to try to develop other ways to encourage more recycling and less litter.

ChristenUnie MP Carla Dik-Faber urged the minister to include specific research into the contribution made by small plastic bottles to city litter.

Some estimates put the cost to society at €250m but companies only contribute €20m to local authorities to clean up the mess, Faber is quoted as saying by news agency ANP.