Consumers fail to claim back €87 million in deposits on bottles

Consumers failed to get back €87 million in deposits on plastic bottles in 2022, broadcaster NOS reported on Thursday, quoting figures from packing industry body Afvalfonds Verpakkingen.

Some 700 million large plastic bottles and one billion small ones are bought every year in the Netherlands and in 2022 just 68% were returned by consumers.

The unclaimed cash is kept by an industry foundation and is used to finance improvements in the recycling system and boost public awareness.

Afvalfonds Verpakkingen was given an official warning last September about the slow progress being made and in December came up with a three year plan to reach the 90% recycling target.

The Netherlands introduced deposits of 15 cents on small bottles in July 2021. Cans followed last April.

Dairy and fresh juice products don’t yet fall under the deposit system, and they account for some 16% of all plastic bottles sold. The Afvalfonds now plan to ask the dairy and juice producers to shift to deposits voluntarily and some have already done so.