What are your thoughts on Plastic bottle deposits?

In the last few years, many countries in Europe started a bottle deposit-program, where if you buy a bottle made of plastic, glass or metal which is 0.1 to 3 liters, you must pay a deposit, and if you bring it back to the store, you get the deposit back. 

First, it seems like another opportunity to make profit for mega companies, since if someone doesn't return the bottle, the company doesn't have to pay them back, so they pocket the deposit.

From another perspective, it is way better for the planet, as it really brings up the recycling rate. Most countries that introuced it have it higher than 90%, while those who didn't are generally only 45-50%.

Now, I cannot say anything about it, since Hungary only implements it from 1 January 2024. The deposits range from €0.10 to €0.25 in Europe. But, for some purchases, it will bring the price up massively. The store brand large bottle mineral waters cost around 100 Ft in Hungary, but the deposit is 50 Ft, so you would pay 50% more upfront.

I'm also interested, what do you think about these deposits and recycling as a whole? And if you're from a country that has already implemented these measures, what is good and bad about it? I'm interested to know.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Container-deposit_legislation

Quite widespread around the world, some countries has had this legislation since the 1980s.

In Denmark and Germany the system is in common use since years, and most (99%) give the bottles back in the machine foreseen for that and they get their money back. Seems to me a good system, and I don't think the extra price goes to the producers, but to the governments? 

I used to find lots of bottles and cans while walking my dog. I've turned in 5-6 euros at a time or more. Free money. People are getting smart finding out 4 bottles or can makes a euro, adds up. Can't find so much any more. When I buy I return the bottles and or cans and get my money back nothing lost.

We have it also for Glass bottles in Germany, heard in the news that they are thinking to add it for regional wine bottles as well.

I think its good, less people throw away their bottles.

for returning the bottles you often find machines next to the supermarkets and its easy to use.

not sure how many years but we had it for a long time.

Some States in the US have it since the 1970s. It definitely gets a lot of glass and plastic out of the un-sorted waste, and off the ground.

People pick them up if found cast off, like finding a coin on the ground. Boy Scouts collect serious money collecting them from businesses, and cleaning up public spaces. Hobos too benefit, finding them along roadways.

It doesn't really add any cost to the economy. Waste collection happens no matter what bin the stuff goes in.

 The scrap glass and plastic kept into very good separate streams gives it some chance of having market value. that is the real problem with recycling. glass and metal has a market value. paper and plastic, less than zero. It is over here, may be better elsewhere. Getting the user to sort them carefully helps a lot.

Recycling is a Business opportunity, and a social problem, much in need of ambitious young people.

Mr. Midnight

Some States in the US have it since the 1970s. It definitely gets a lot of glass and plastic out of the un-sorted waste, and off the ground.

People pick them up if found cast off, like finding a coin on the ground. Boy Scouts collect serious money collecting them from businesses, and cleaning up public spaces. Hobos too benefit, finding them along roadways.

+1

The thing people forget about bottle deposits is the goal is not to increase the recycling rate, it's an anti-litter policy. I'm from Oregon, which was first in the US to implement a deposit, and there are very few cans in the street. If you go to a gas station in a state without a deposit, say Oklahoma, bottles and cans everywhere.

Some_Nerd

Mr. Midnight

Some States in the US have it since the 1970s. It definitely gets a lot of glass and plastic out of the un-sorted waste, and off the ground.

People pick them up if found cast off, like finding a coin on the ground. Boy Scouts collect serious money collecting them from businesses, and cleaning up public spaces. Hobos too benefit, finding them along roadways.

+1

The thing people forget about bottle deposits is the goal is not to increase the recycling rate, it's an anti-litter policy. I'm from Oregon, which was first in the US to implement a deposit, and there are very few cans in the street. If you go to a gas station in a state without a deposit, say Oklahoma, bottles and cans everywhere.

+

I live in Ohio, right near the Michigan border. In Ohio, you see tons of littered cans and bottles everywhere. Whenever I travel to Michigan, I have noticed a huge difference in the amount of bottles and cans carelessly left about. The only unfortunate (but reasonable) thing is it’s illegal to claim a deposit on cans purchased outside of Michigan there. It’s only 5¢ per can but it does make a massive difference.

One annoying thing in Germany is that some supermarket chains only accept returned bottles that have been sold in their shops, whereas in for example Sweden the bottle deposit is universal, which means that all bottles that are in the deposit system are accepted.

As been said, this is nothing new. As kids we use to collect coke bottles in California for the three cent deposit and I'm over 70 now so it's been around for awhile.

In Germany I remember the deposit was 25c. In California it is 10c. My friends who cash them in get to have all my bottles and cans

Hapertas

One annoying thing in Germany is that some supermarket chains only accept returned bottles that have been sold in their shops, whereas in for example Sweden the bottle deposit is universal, which means that all bottles that are in the deposit system are accepted.

Here in the Netherlands we too have the deposit. It is universal and the supermarkets or stores are subsidised by the government to pay the deposit.

However, there still are some bottles and cans lying around, but here we have really high deposits (15, 25 cents per bottle or 15 for can depending on the size if the bottle) so it is really worth the effort.

I had a years worth of bottles laying around worth: 20€!

TRC

Something that my family has done for a while now is saving all of our aluminium soda cans, crushing them, and taking them to a nearby recycling plant. The recycling plant pays us quite a decent amount for a large trash bag of cans. We’ve used this money for vacation souvenirs, holiday and birthday gifts, and donations. All this in a state without a deposit. The only downside is that you can’t do it with glass or plastic containers.

Guido

In the last few years, many countries in Europe started a bottle deposit-program, where if you buy a bottle made of plastic, glass or metal which is 0.1 to 3 liters, you must pay a deposit, and if you bring it back to the store, you get the deposit back. 

Are you saying this is a new thing? In Sweden we've been doing this for decades. After a house party you simply collect all empty beer cans and bottles and deposit them for a small profit (since everyone is bringing their own drinks).

It's also common to see homeless and Romani people rummage through the city's trash containers looking for empty beer/soft drink/energy drink cans which they can deposit. If you work hard you can earn a few hundred crowns a day. (100 SEK = $9.61 / 8.84 €)

Sweden most likely has the oldest glas bottle recycling scheme in the world. It was introduced in 1884 and the bottles were standardized in 1885. The glas bottle recycling scheme still exist with the same design of the bottles. The deposit values are SEK 0.60 for a 33 cl bottle and SEK 0.90 for a 50 cl bottle, even though the smallest circulating coin has the face value SEK 1.

Hapertas

The deposit values are SEK 0.60 for a 33 cl bottle and SEK 0.90 for a 50 cl bottle, even though the smallest circulating coin has the face value SEK 1.

Nah, mate. Most of the aluminium cans and glas bottles gives 1 SEK, and some large bottles, like a 2 litres plastic coke bottle, gives 2 SEK.

Three examples

Beer can, 250 ml, aluminium

Coke can, 330 ml, aluminium

Juice bottle, 850 ml, plastic

33 cl glas bottles are for sodas (läsk) and 50 cl glas bottles are for beer.