Ms Van Veldhoven: ‘In my opinion, the number of cans in street litter must decrease considerably, one way or the other. Failure to achieve this goal will prompt the introduction of a deposit scheme for cans. By the autumn of 2021, the number of cans in street litter must have been reduced by 70-90%. To this end, Ms Van Veldhoven will pursue a strategy similar to the one pertaining to bottles. The subsequent step that State Secretary Van Veldhoven envisages to combat street litter involves cutting back the number of drinks cans in the environment. It goes without saying that all the corona precautions will be observed in this respect. For example, new collection machines will be required as well as equipment to flatten the bottles, and transport and sorting arrangements need to be made. An implementation organisation will be set up to assist all the collecting parties in rolling out the deposit scheme next year. Manufacturers are responsible for the implementation and the costs of the new deposit scheme. Schools and sports clubs may volunteer to set up a collection point. Hotels, restaurants, cafés and small businesses will be exempt from the obligation to collect small bottles. In the near future the bottles may be returned to some 12,000 collection points: in supermarkets (> 200 m2), through caterers, at train stations with manned sales booths, and at large petrol stations along motorways. Hotels, restaurants, cafés and small businesses exempt Estimates are that under this deposit system, 90% of the – small and large – plastic bottles will be returned. 900 million small plastic bottles that are sold every year, some 100 million end up in the environment. By levying a deposit on small plastic bottles, State Secretary Van Veldhoven aims to keep the plastic bottles out of our environment. Failure to accomplish this would entail the introduction of a deposit system. In 2018, agreements were first made with the business community and the Association of Netherlands Municipalities VNG to achieve a 70-90% reduction in the number of small plastic bottles ending up in the environment. Ms Van Veldhoven has pursued a two-track strategy focused on the end (reducing litter) rather than the means (deposits). This decision will put a stop to the debate on a deposit scheme for small plastic bottles, which has been going on for 20 years. The introduction of a deposit scheme requires about a year of preparation that is why we are now making things clear for all parties concerned.’ Combating plastic soup This includes the combating of plastic soup and street litter. At the same time, I am continuing my efforts in other fields in the pursuit of a healthy and clean future. Ms Van Veldhoven: ‘The corona crisis is our top priority.
Hotels, restaurants, cafés and small businesses will be exempt from the obligation to collect small plastic bottles. Responsibility for the introduction of the deposit system will be vested with the manufacturers of the drinks bottles.
This measure is intended to lead to a significant reduction in the volume of plastic street litter. Plastic bottles may be returned in supermarkets, at train stations along motorways, and through caterers. From that day on, a 15 cent deposit will be added to each small bottle ( 1 litre) will remain at 25 cents. This is what State Secretary Stientje van Veldhoven has arranged with the packaging sector. 1 July 2021 will see the introduction of a deposit on small plastic bottles.
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