After years of debate, a 15 cent deposit will be introduced on drinks cans from 2023, acting junior infrastructure minister Stientje van Veldhoven has told MPs in a briefing on Wednesday.

Last year Van Veldhoven said a deposit would be on the cards if the number of discarded cans did not fall by 70% compared to the average of 2016/2017. The latest figures have shown an increase of 27% in 2020.

Some 150 million cans are simply tossed away every year which, the minister said, is bad for the environment and for wildlife. A deposit and more recycling should solve the problem, Van Veldhoven said.

Manufacturers and supermarkets have been given two years to prepare for the measure because they will have to find ways to process returns. Small retailers and bars are exempt from taking in the cans.

A deposit on small plastic bottles, also set at 15 cents, will come into effect in July this year.