Dutch DRS gets 5,400 collection point expansion after recycling targets postponed to 2026

05 Dec 2023 --- Dutch recycling foundation Afvalfonds Verpakkingen (AV) has announced plans to install an additional 5,400 plastic bottle collection points throughout the Netherlands for its deposit return system (DRS) after conceding that the government’s mandatory 90% collection rate will not be met until 2026.

The AV says it became apparent that too many small PET bottles are not being returned, and it is talking to various parties to arrange for the installation of more collection machines.

The expansion of the number of return points consists of 800 additional deposit machines in and near supermarkets and 1,800 additional deposit machines at other busy locations, such as educational institutions, public transport, catering establishments, day attractions, shopping centers, festivals, beaches and airports.

A further 2,800 additional manual collection points will also be installed, which AV says should be enough to fill the gap in deposit rates.

“We really want to make a difference. To give an idea of what this means in practice: an expansion of 2,800 deposit machines means that approximately 100 machines are added per month,” says Hester Klein Lankhorst, general manager at AV.

Dutch consumers will be motivated to use DRS points through ad campaigns.“From now on, that will be about five per working day for 30 months. Including preparation, installation and setting up management and logistics. A beautiful but also a big job for all parties involved.”

Hitting legal targets
The national target of 90% collection for plastic beverage bottles applies to all bottles, including those without a return deposit. Roughly 16% of all plastic beverage bottles in the Netherlands are not deposited.

These bottles may now only be counted to a limited extent if they are recovered for recycling through the subsequent separation or collection. They are also important to achieve the target.

While some of the non-deposit bottles are made of PET and can be added easily to the recycling stream, the AV says other types of plastics are often impossible to add to the system without endangering the usability of the rPET produced.

“We will discuss possible solutions with the producers of these bottles,” says the organization.

Working with consumers
AV is also boosting its efforts to motivate and encourage consumers to use the DRS systems, launching major national campaigns and activation promotions.

“Behavioral change takes time, but we are confident that consumers will fully embrace the deposit system on plastic bottles (and cans) within a few years,” it says.

Professional services network PwC drew up plans to increase DRS machines to help AV meet the national targets. PwC also took into account experiences in countries where deposits have been successfully introduced, showing European countries need between two and 11 years to achieve 90% collection. The countries with the best results are Norway and Denmark. 5

These two countries took over eight years to achieve 90% collection. But the current timeline for the Netherlands (2026), with the expansion of the infrastructure and scope of the system, is more ambitious, asserts AV.

Studying consumers
In January, a pilot investigation will begin with the Nature and Environment Federation of North Holland (MNH) to study how local residents can be encouraged to return more deposit packaging.

“With this pilot we want to gain insight into how we can encourage people to actively return drink bottles and cans close to home. We will do this by making it easier for residents of districts and neighborhoods to return items,” says Sijas Akkerman, director of the MNH.

“And we will do this by, for example, allowing the proceeds from the collection to benefit green or social projects in our own neighborhood. We want to investigate whether, in addition to sustainability, you can also use other values to promote collection and return.”

By Louis Gore-Langton

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