374 million euros in deposits not collected, too few people return cans and bottles

For the first time, Verpact, formerly Afvalfonds Verpakkingen, provides insight into the enormous deposit flows. The collection target of 90 percent is far from being achieved for bottles, which since 2021 also includes small bottles. Many consumers therefore leave money behind, which remains in Verpact’s account. Last month, a suspicious House of Representatives demanded insight into the finances of the foundation, which acts on behalf of the packaging industry.

With the idea that the polluter pays, the companies are made responsible for processing and recycling their waste – the reason they founded Verpact. On Tuesday, this foundation announced that more than one billion euros had been spent on the deposit system in the past three years. Consumers have not collected 374 million euros of this. In addition, Verpact received 82 million euros from packaging companies for managing the system.

Most of this money is spent on management, such as maintaining the deposit machines and processing the cans and bottles. Part is reserved for consumers who return their bottles and cans later. At the end of the process, 99 million euros remained.

The foundation is not allowed to make a profit and does not do so, emphasizes chairman of the board Hester Klein Lankhorst. ‘The Tax Authorities also monitor this.’ According to her, the remaining millions are intended for large-scale investments in the collection system.

Hundreds of deposit machines should be added in the coming years, including at train stations and educational institutions. Money also goes to research into consumer behavior. Klein Lankhorst: ‘For example, we are now delving into the minds of consumers with the question: how do we ensure that they do not throw away an empty can, but keep it with them?’

Because Verpact had more money left over than expected, the contribution that packaging manufacturers and importers must pay was reduced by 10 percent at the beginning of 2023. Viewed in this way, the companies appear to benefit from an underperforming deposit system for which they themselves are responsible.

Klein Lankhorst sees it differently. ‘Before introducing a deposit on small bottles, we made an estimate of how much we would ask companies. When less came back than we hoped, we reduced that amount again.’ It works the same way in other European countries, she says.

Thousands of new return points

However, last year the return percentage of bottles remained stuck at 71 percent, Verpact estimates. That is a few percent more than in 2022. For cans, which have only had a deposit for a year, this is approximately 65 percent.

Klein Lankhorst believes that the objective was never immediately achievable. Changing behavior takes time, she says. ‘In countries like Denmark and Germany it took roughly ten years before they reached 90 percent.’ Verpact wants to achieve this by 2026, although acceleration is needed, she acknowledges.

Thousands of new return points should ensure this. They are part of an improvement plan drawn up last year after outgoing State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen (Infrastructure) strongly criticized Verpact. A public campaign also started on Tuesday with rapper Donnie, who previously advertised gambling on football matches as King Toto. He must convince young people in particular to return their cans and bottles properly.

However, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate does not think the improvement plan is ambitious enough. For example, the regulator wants 2,800 manual collection points to be added before 2026, not just at the end of 2026. If this does not happen, penalty payments are likely. Verpact is contesting this requirement and will certainly stick to the current plan until the procedure is over, says Klein Lankhorst.