Everyone is used to throwing away small plastic bottles, because there is no value attached to them. However, this will soon change. Stop throwing away plastic bottles from July 1th, pay your deposit
For years, efforts have been made to reduce the amount of plastic waste. Unfortunately, that has not been successful so far. However, people are becoming more aware and are opting for replacement packaging. Think of shampoo bars and shower bars that are packed in cardboard boxes. Or plastic bags in the supermarket that cost money to encourage people to bring their own bags.
Until now, in all the efforts to reduce plastic waste, one thing has never been included:small plastic bottles with drinks. While you simply pay a deposit for large bottles from 1 liter, this does not apply to small bottles until now.
No less than 900 million small bottles are sold every year. On the other hand, about 100 million empty bottles end up in the environment. A very worrying number, especially when you consider that this has a major impact on nature and animals.
Indeed, until now, because this will change from 1 July 2021. From July 1, 2021 you pay a deposit on all bottles! This means that you also have to pay a deposit for that 500 ml Coca Cola bottle or bottle of water. From that moment on you pay 15 cents for PET bottles under 1 liter.
Just like the large bottles, the empty bottles can be returned to supermarkets, caterers, train stations (with points of sale) and large gas stations. All this should lead to 90% fewer bottles ending up in the environment.
Incidentally, there are already companies that have introduced a deposit on the bottles. So check your receipt carefully, so that you don't throw away money because you have already paid the deposit.
In any case, introducing a deposit on small PET bottles is a step in the right direction. In order to reduce the mountain of waste even more, it is already being examined whether it is possible to introduce a deposit on cans. However, this is something for the future and will not be introduced for the time being.
Incidentally, the Netherlands is lagging behind when it comes to introducing deposits. In our neighboring country Germany, you have been paying a deposit on all PET bottles, as well as on the cans, since 2003. So if you do your shopping in Germany, keep that in mind. You also pay a deposit if you eat at a supermarket, for example. So feel free to hand in the bottle after dinner to get the deposit back.
In addition to Germany, you also pay a deposit on all bottles in the northern countries:Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. In all these countries a large decrease can be seen in the mountain of plastic that ends up in the environment. In Germany the decrease was even almost 95%.
Source:government.nl
