Companies are collecting more cans with investments, but still too little

Companies are collecting more bottles and cans with deposits this year, but it is still too little. This is what Verpact says, the organization responsible for the collection and recycling of packages on behalf of the business community.

It is legally guaranteed that 90 percent of bottles and cans will be returned by deposit, but this year it is expected to be 78 percent for bottles and 82 percent for cans.

Human Environment and Transport Inspectors (ILT) have already threatened to impose penalty payments this year because the standard is not being met. The regulator wants the industry to make it easier and more attractive for consumers to return investment packaging.

Verpact says that they are studying ways to do this and that they want to avoid more than 300 million euros in penalty payments. The group says they have been working for some time to expand the number of return points.

The ILT, among other things, requires the addition of at least 5,400 additional collection points by January 1, 2027. Verpact intends to achieve this number. There are currently over 5,000 return points.

The regulator is also asking Verpact to investigate how damaged bottles and cans can be collected. Now, packages with dents are often not returnable. The group is now looking at how storage devices can be modified so they can be collected.

In addition, the ILT asks Verpact to look at increasing the investment, but the group is not interested in a new increase, also because the garbage bins on the street are then turned even more often.