Hundreds of additional deposit machines needed, and not just in supermarkets

It’s all in a new plan that the Packaging Waste Fund has submitted to the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). According to that plan, there should be more return points in other places such as schools, stations and airports. This is because too many small plastic drinks bottles are not yet returned.

In concrete terms, the Waste Fund wants eight hundred extra deposit machines in and near supermarkets and 1,800 extra deposit machines in other places. An additional 2,800 collection points, without machines, should also be added. This concerns, for example, special containers at sports clubs.

“This will give consumers across the country many more options to return their plastic beverage bottles for a deposit. This will significantly increase collection figures,” explains the organization, which is responsible for the collection and recycling of packaging on behalf of the business community.

Long rows

Since the introduction of deposits on plastic bottles and cans, the queues for these machines are often very long. But now there is a solution for this: a new machine.

Earlier this year, the Waste Fund had received a warning letter from the inspectorate for not meeting the collection target for plastic bottles. Last year, only 68 percent of all plastic bottles were returned, far below the legally required target of 90 percent.

At 90 percent in 2026

The Waste Fund is talking to various parties about the installation of collection machines. In addition, it wants to use promotions and national campaigns to encourage people to return deposit packaging.

Ultimately, the Waste Fund expects to achieve the required 90 percent collection of plastic beverage bottles by 2026. “Behavior change takes time, but we are confident that consumers will fully embrace the deposit system on plastic bottles (and cans) within a few years.”