Dutch Supermarkets Oppose New Deposit Scheme for Milk and Juice Cartons

Supermarkets in the Netherlands have raised objections to a new proposal by the Dutch government to expand the existing deposit return scheme to include milk and juice cartons. This plan, announced by Green Growth Minister Stientje van Veldhoven in a letter to parliament, seeks to reduce litter and simplify the recycling process for consumers.

The current deposit scheme mandates deposits on plastic soft drink and water bottles, but not on other types of plastic bottles. Minister van Veldhoven noted that this inconsistency leads to consumer confusion. The new measure aims to address this by standardizing which containers require a deposit.

However, the Dutch supermarkets' lobby group CBL has expressed concerns that adding milk and juice cartons to the scheme could pose risks to food security and public health. The group argues that the scheme may encourage scavenging, as individuals might empty street bins in search of containers to return for cash, potentially leading to unsanitary conditions.

Despite these concerns, data indicates a significant decrease in the number of drink containers found in street litter since the deposit scheme's extension to metal cans in 2023. According to the Zwerfinator monitor, the number of drink packs in litter has declined sharply.

The law requires packaging companies to collect 90% of empty bottles, yet recent figures show that they have only achieved a 77% collection rate. As a result, the environment and transport inspectorate (ILT) has warned that conditional fines might be imposed if the target is not met.

Minister van Veldhoven has also expressed a desire to prevent the introduction of stricter regulations by the European Union. The EU has indicated it may impose a universal obligation on all retailers, including small shops, in nations that do not achieve the 90% collection target.