That plastic pollution pollutes our oceans and causes a lot of animal species to be threatened is not news. It is not only a big problem in the Netherlands, but worldwide. It is high time that we take initiatives to reduce this mountain of waste. One such initiative is the introduction of deposit money. From April 1, 2023, this will finally become mandatory in the Netherlands.

The introduction of deposits on plastic bottles and cans in an important step in the fight against plastic pollution. According to the Dutch government, annually about 1.5 billion plastic bottles and 1 billion cans end up in the streets, in nature and in the ocean. Immensely harmful to the environment, but on top of that it also costs tons of money to clean up.

This process has not been without controversy. There were years of debate over whether or not it should be mandatory. Some parties feared that the system would be too expensive and that it would only lead to more bureaucracy and red tape. Others, on the contrary, believed that deposits were an effective means to combat plastic pollution.

With the introduction of deposits, there is a financial incentive to clean up litter. When you purchase your plastic bottle or can from the store, you pay an additional sum. You get that money back when you return the empty bottle or can to a special collection bin or vending machine. This is hoped to make it more attractive for many consumers to neatly dispose of their waste instead of leaving it lying around on the street. Result? Less litter and more recycling!

That that rule is good for the environment we don't have to tell you by now. Deposits are also good for the economy. By increasing recycling, less new material has to be produced, and that means less cost. Moreover, it is good for employment in the recycling industry.

Finally, the Dutch government decided to make deposits mandatory. This means that from April 1, 2023, all plastic bottles and cans in the Netherlands must have deposits. This applies to all containers of less than 3 liters, regardless of whether they are sold in supermarkets or other stores. The deposit system is not new. It has been used in Germany, Norway and other European countries for many years. As a result, a lot of experience and knowledge has also been accumulated on how best to implement the system. The Netherlands can therefore benefit from these experiences and thus introduce the system quickly and effectively.

Wondering how that best handles this change? Here we answer all your questions.