Bottle deposit

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Returnable bottles in deposit boxes

The bottle deposit , can deposit or often simply deposit , in Austria also use or masculine the deposit , in Switzerland bottle depot , is a deposit system and describes an amount of money that the customer receives from a beverage supplier for beverage containers, mostly bottles , crates or beverage cans , leaves behind and received back when the container is returned (see deposit (right) ). The system is intended to stimulate the return of the beverage container for reuse and thusConserve resources , save energy and reduce environmental pollution .

In general, a distinction must be made between one-way deposit and reusable deposit systems. In the case of reusable deposit systems, the bottle is refilled, whereas the one-way deposit usually applies to one-way packaging such as beverage cans, one-way glass bottles and one-way PET bottles , which are mostly recycled .

There are different deposit systems around the world without international uniformity; however, many countries do not have any comprehensive deposit systems at all. Reusable is more common than one-way deposit. The one-way deposit is unknown in most European countries; only in the Scandinavian countries have regulations existed for a long time. Sweden introduced a reusable deposit system for 33 cl glass bottles in 1885, making it the oldest deposit system in the world.

Germany

Reusable

The following amounts apply in Germany :

  • Reusable beer bottles are charged at € 0.08, regardless of whether they contain 0.33 l or 0.5 l.
  • Reusable beer bottles with swing top have a deposit of € 0.15, and regional deposits of € 0.25, € 0.50 or € 0.60 are also available.
  • Other returnable bottles with screw caps made of glass or harder plastic cost € 0.15. These include B. mineral water , lemonade , yogurt, milk, cream, cider , fruit juices .
  • Reusable glass bottles from Schweppes have a deposit of € 0.10.
  • Some retail chains charge a deposit of € 0.02 or € 0.03 for 1-liter glass wine bottles .

The average circulation figures (number of re-uses) for returnable bottles in the Federal Republic of Germany in the early 1980s were as follows: 52 (beer), 42 (mineral water), 37 (carbonated soft drinks), 27 (non-carbonated soft drinks) and 5 (wine) . The question of the economic viability of the various systems cannot be clearly clarified.

In contrast to the one-way deposit, there is no statutory regulation for the amount of the reusable deposit; this could be freely determined by every bottler. However, only the amounts mentioned above are common today. For example, the 1.5-liter returnable PET bottle from Coca-Cola was subject to a deposit of DM 0.50 when it was launched in 1990  . From December 1, 1991, the amount per bottle was then increased to DM 0.70 and, on January 1, 2002, for the introduction of the euro , it was adjusted to the industry-standard amount of DM 0.30 / € 0.15.

There are problems with the automated return of empties in this context, for example with 0.5 liter lemonade glass bottles. These are subject to a deposit of € 0.15, but due to their shape and size correspond to normal 0.5 liter beer bottles and are therefore often recognized as such by the machines.

Bottles from abroad (printed in a foreign language or non-German EAN code) are usually not taken back, but with the same shape with German standard bottles, they are often accepted by vending machines.

Special models such as B. 3.001 liter beer bottles (to circumvent the one-way deposit obligation) are normally deposit-free. Most soft plastic bottles are classed as one-way returnable bottles, if not, this is often clearly stated on the label . A green dot or the symbol for disposable packaging usually indicate a deposit-free bottle; But this can also mean that the bottle can be recycled. Various dealers also offer thin glass bottles with the DPG logo, which can be taken back wherever non-returnable glass bottles are offered (€ 0.25).

Beverage crates (and also crates for yoghurt in reusable glasses or similar) are usually subject to a deposit of € 1.50 (€ 3 before the change in the reusable taxation standard in 2009). Beer crates with 20 bottles are therefore subject to a deposit of € 3.10 and with 24 bottles of € 3.42. The boxes are usually considered "unsalable property "; that is, no property can be acquired with the pledge. The loan - like transfer of use mentioned above also applies here . The overwhelming majority of the boxes used can be assigned to a manufacturer or distributor through the labeling and identification, so that ownership always remains with him.

Difficulties arise in practice with the halved boxes offered by some manufacturers, whereby only half the deposit per half and the whole deposit (€ 0.75 or € 1.50) for the entire box is reimbursed.

Disposable

One- way bottles purchased in Germany that require a deposit are recognizable by the DPG logo and are subject to a deposit of € 0.25. The compulsory deposit has been in force in Germany since January 1, 2003 for one-way packaging of beverages. Even if the system is sometimes colloquially referred to as can deposit in Germany , the correct name is one-way deposit .

Until April 30, 2006 there were different deposit systems there, which meant that the respective packaging could only be returned in certain shops. Since May 1, 2006, all shops that sell drinks in one-way packaging subject to a deposit must also take back the one-way packaging of the respective material type. There are exceptions for shops with a retail space of less than 200 m².

development

DPG marking on one-way deposit items

The basis for the introduction of the deposit on one-way beverage packaging is the Packaging Ordinance , which was passed in 1991 by the Federal Government under the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Klaus Töpfer  (CDU). The ordinance was confirmed and amended in 1998 by the then federal government ( Kohl V cabinet ) - Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety was Angela Merkel (CDU) at the time .

After the reusable share of beverage packaging had fallen below 72% nationwide since 1997 , the one-way deposit was introduced on January 1, 2003 under Jürgen Trittin (Greens) - Environment Minister from 1998 to 2005. All beverage areas in which the proportion of returnable bottles was below the proportion of 1991 were affected . These were beer (including beer drinks), mineral water (still and sparkling) and soft drinks with carbonic acid . Packaging for milk , wine , sparkling wine , spirits and non-carbonated soft drinks were exempt from the mandatory deposit . This led to the situation that the deposit was introduced for mixed beer drinks, but not for other mixed drinks such as vodka / lemon or whiskey / cola , because these are spirits.

Until recently, the retail and beverage industry tried to prevent the introduction of the deposit by filing lawsuits with the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig and the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe. The lawsuits were unsuccessful.

Since the trade had relied on such a prevention of the pledge by legal means until the end, most companies were not prepared for the levying of the pledge on January 1, 2003. A nine-month transition period was therefore granted, during which the stores only had to accept the packaging that they had sold themselves. This was achieved by taking one-way packaging back only against presentation of the receipt or a deposit token. Since October 1, 2003, the shops have also had to take back packaging that they had not sold themselves. Instead of a politically required uniform deposit system, however, retailers actually introduced different deposit systems running in parallel. The background to this development was the possibility of so-called island solutions provided for in the regulation .

Since the third ordinance amending the Packaging Ordinance came into force on May 1, 2006, these various deposit systems have been abolished and all shops with at least 200 m² sales area must also take back all beverage packaging of the types of material they sell. This means that all empty one-way bottles and cans can be returned wherever one-way of the same material is sold. A distinction is made between plastic, glass and metal.

With the implementation of the new ordinance, the mandatory deposit was also extended to non-carbonated soft drinks and mixed drinks containing alcohol (especially so-called alcopops). Fruit and vegetable juices, milk and wine, dietary drinks within the meaning of the Diet Ordinance (the so-called "light" drinks do not belong to this group) as well as ecologically advantageous one-way drinks packaging (cardboard packaging, polyethylene tubular bags and foil stand-up pouches, regardless of the Contents).

The effect of the one-way deposit has been discussed again since 2006, after the Association of Economic Associations for Non-Alcoholic Drinks presented figures that show a sharp decline in the reusable share of non-alcoholic beverages, which the association, among others. attributed to the effect of the one-way deposit. In contrast, the Federal Association of German Beverage Wholesalers (BV GFGH) speaks of record reusable shares in beer. In an answer to a small question from the left-wing parliamentary group in October 2006, the federal government stated that there were no reliable figures beyond 2004. According to statistics from the Federal Environment Ministry, the share of reusable drinks packaging (excluding milk) fell from 70.13% to 60.33% between 1998 and 2004. With the exception of beer (the reusable share increased here), this development affects all types of beverages, both deposit-free and deposit-requiring.

According to surveys by the Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung (GfK), the reusable quota for non-alcoholic beverages fell to 31% by 2008. So it has been roughly halved since the introduction of the deposit. In the case of beer, on the other hand, it was 90%. The reasons given for the decline are cost advantages in retail and lower consumer prices on the demand side and the availability of beverages in one-way packaging, easier handling and poor differentiation between non-returnable and non-returnable. According to a TNS-Emnid survey, around half of all consumers believe that returnable bottles and environmentally friendly returnable bottles mean the same thing.

In May 2010 the Federal Environment Agency presented a study that the Augsburg environmental institute bifa had carried out on its behalf and that analyzed the effects of the one-way deposit. Because of the frequent but erroneous equation of deposit and reusable, the bifa recommended, among other things, that the beverage packaging with a deposit of € 0.25 be clearly labeled as “one-way packaging”.

The management consultancy CIS OHG , after evaluating data from the market research company ACNielsen , comes to the conclusion that the reusable rate for beer is slowly but continuously falling, whereas single-use packaging, especially beverage cans, continues to gain ground. For this purpose, data from 2009 to 2012 were compared with one another.

Development from 2009 to 2012
Reusable glass −2,283,784 hl (−4.1%)
Disposable glass +3,243 hl (+ 0.9%)
Disposable PET +650,874 hl (+ 13.1%)
Beverage cans (<1 l) +855.507 hl (+ 63.8%)

Deposit systems - January 1, 2003 to April 30, 2006

Typical deposit token
The "receipt system"

Since trade and industry had largely relied on legal or political prevention of the one-way deposit until recently, no timely preparations were made for the introduction of the deposit on January 1, 2003. In order to be able to introduce the deposit as planned, a nine-month transition period was granted, during which the shops only had to accept the packaging that they had sold themselves. This was achieved by the fact that one-way packaging was only taken back against presentation of the receipt, an additional deposit slip or a deposit token. Only a few large discounters introduced specially labeled packaging to simplify the processes in their branches, which could be returned to all branches of the respective company without additional receipts or brands.

Because of this uncomfortable solution for customers, many cans and PET bottles were thrown in the trash. According to an estimate by the Federal Ministry of Economics, 450 million euros had not been redeemed by October 2003 . This so-called deposit slip remained in the retail trade minus 16% sales tax .

P-System and Vfw / Spar-System
Beverage cans with the "P" logo

On June 13, 2003, a first agreement between parts of the industry and the Federal Environment Ministry to set up a nationwide deposit system was announced. As of October 1st, it should be possible to redeem one-way deposits at every retailer who participated in the so-called P-System . In this system, cans and one-way bottles were marked with a "P". An electronically recognizable barcode was also printed on it. The P-System was operated by the convenience wholesaler Lekkerland , which supplies around 70,000 small sales outlets such as petrol stations and kiosks.

In addition to this system, the Vfw / Spar system , which was operated by Vfw AG and in which the Spar Group and some regional retailers took part, was introduced as a kind of competition. With this system, a deposit coupon issued at the time of purchase was still required to redeem the deposit. However, this coupon was - unlike before - uniform nationwide and was accepted at all participating sales outlets. In mid-April 2004, Vfw AG took part in Lekkerland's P-System and, after a transition period, introduced the P-System in the affiliated shops. According to the company, the merged P-System covered around 10% of the market.

Island solutions
Logo on one-way packaging from Metro AG
PET disposable bottle with individual design

In addition to the two take-back systems mentioned, there were the so-called island solutions of the large retail groups such as Aldi , Lidl , Plus , Rewe or Metro AG . These covered the remaining 90% of the packaging subject to a deposit that was sold. The background to these regulations was the fact that the Packaging Ordinance granted until April 30, 2006 the possibility of restricting returns to packaging that corresponded in type, shape and size to the packaging that was sold in the store.

Since one shop only sold packaging that differed in type, shape or size from the packaging in other shops, only this packaging had to be taken back in this shop. With an individual bottle design and labels with a logo , the companies were able to guarantee that only the packaging they bought had to be taken back.

These isolated solutions have been obsolete since May 1, 2006 due to the new deposit regulation. Bottles that were still purchased at the time of the island solutions can now be handed in wherever the respective type of material is sold, not just in stores of the respective group. The same applies to the island solutions of various beverage manufacturers such as Red Bull and French mineral water bottlers.

Deposit system since May 1, 2006

One-way beverage containers with a deposit of ½ liter represent the three return or raw material groups (from left to right) PET, glass, metal

Since May 29, 2005 the deposit has been a uniform € 0.25 - in retail sales including sales tax, in wholesale sales plus sales tax - on one-way beverage packaging from 0.1 to 3 liters and is valid for an indefinite period. This three-liter limit is causing unusual reactions from some manufacturers who are considering circumventing the law by adding quantities just above the limit.

Since May 1, 2006, all packaging for beer , mixed beer drinks, mineral and table water ( carbonated and non- carbonated ), soft drinks (carbonated and non-carbonated) including iced tea and alcopops in cans and disposable bottles (plastic and glass) are subject to a deposit. On January 1, 2019, the compulsory deposit was extended to carbonated fruit and vegetable nectars as well as mixed drinks with a share of milk products, especially whey , of at least 50%. This means that it is no longer possible to bypass the can deposit, which was often used by energy drink manufacturers. Alcoholic mixed drinks, fruit and vegetable juices, wine and sparkling wine in cans and plastic bottles have also been subject to a deposit since 2022. This also applies to all diet drinks, as well as milk and canned dairy products. There is a transitional regulation until 2024 for milk and milk products in non-returnable bottles. The ARD magazine Panorama criticizes the legal process that led to this transition period and called it "a lesson in how lobbying works." The dairy industry association sees further negotiation potential as to whether a deposit obligation will really be enforced depends on the next federal government ( Scholz cabinet ).

In principle, drinks in so-called "ecologically beneficial" one-way packaging ( drink cartons , polyethylene tubular bags, foil stand-up pouches) and certain dietetic drinks within the meaning of the Diet Ordinance are also excluded from the deposit if these are only offered for infants or small children.

Anyone who has been selling drinks in one-way returnable packaging since May 1, 2006, has since then had to take back such containers for a deposit - regardless of whether they were sold in their own shop or not. However, the obligation to take back is limited to the type of material being sold; This means, for example, that plastic bottles (PET bottles) only have to be taken back by those who sell them; However, if you only sell cans and glass bottles, you only have to take back cans and glass bottles, but not PET bottles. Aluminum bottles, a kind of hybrid of can and bottle, are treated like cans and not like bottles due to the pure material differentiation. This means that a shop that sells cans but not aluminum bottles still has to take them back, but not a shop that does not sell aluminum bottles or cans. Damaged packaging, for which the original deposit can be identified, must also be taken back against payment of the deposit. The same applies to old packaging from the island solutions.

There are exceptions for kiosks and small shops with a sales area of ​​less than 200 m². You can limit the take-back obligation to packaging of the brands you place on the market. If you only have beers from certain manufacturers in your range, you don't need to take back the packaging of others. This is to protect the small merchants from the accumulation of empties that exceed the storage capacities.

Deutsche Pfandsystem GmbH is responsible for organizing the so-called "DPG" system .

As is common in most countries with uniform mandatory deposit for years, the withdrawal of one-way, empty packaging is mainly due in large retail chains in Germany Reverse vending machines handled.

The introduction of the new, uniform deposit system was largely driven by a ruling by the European Court of Justice . The Packaging Ordinance, which was valid in Germany until summer 2005, violated EU law in its former form, as the lack of a transition period was viewed as a disproportionate interference with the free movement of goods at the expense of bottlers from other EU member states. That is why the packaging ordinance was adapted to the EU requirements in winter 2004/2005.

Deposit slip

It is estimated that by the beginning of 2006 around 10% to 25% of all single-use packaging subject to a deposit had not been returned to the market. Experts estimate that after the take-back system has been simplified, around 5% will still be lost. For 2012, the Federal Environment Agency assumed a response rate of around 95.9%.

Tax loophole

The factual difference in the deposit level in retail of 25 cents (including VAT) and around 29 cents (25 cents plus VAT of 4 cents) was discussed early on. A retailer pays its wholesaler 25 cents plus sales tax per one-way deposit, a total of around 29 cents, but in turn only receives 25 cents from the customer. If a customer does not redeem the deposit, the retailer will suffer a loss of 4 cents and about 1 cent input tax surplus , a total of around 5 cents. Instead, if a customer redeems the deposit directly at wholesalers - for example at Metro Cash & Carry  - they in return make a profit of around 5 cents.

In 2015, there was speculation about tax losses resulting from the input tax surplus amounting to 40 million euros annually. The Federal Ministry of Finance, on the other hand, assumes that the different tax treatment would not result in any tax damage. The specialist literature basically affirms the possibility of tax loss of income, but disagrees about the actual extent. In some cases the amount is considered marginal, in others the estimate of 40 million euros is assessed as "entirely plausible".

Legal position

Tax issues

The sales tax to be levied on the deposit price is based on the tax rate of the product contained therein, which is generally 19%, for milk 7%. For German consumers, the deposit price includes sales tax ; In the intermediate trade, the deposit amount is calculated as the net price.

The income from collecting and redeeming returnable bottles is , according to a judgment of the Federal Fiscal Court i. S. d. Section 22 no. 3 sentence 1 EStG to be taxed as other services . The exemption limit is € 256.00 per year. From € 256.01, the entire income is taxable. Advertising expenses can be deducted from the income.

Lien

Legally, the term deposit bottle can be confusing, as it does not establish a right of lien on the bottle, but only a right of return against payment of the amount paid as a deposit, which the Federal Court of Justice describes as a loan-like transfer of use .

Ownership structure

It is controversial who will or will remain the owner of the various levels of trade .

The Federal Court of Justice differentiates between the types of returnable bottles that are used repeatedly. This depends on whether the bottle used is permanently labeled as the property of a specific manufacturer or distributor, whether it can be assigned to a manufacturer group or whether it is a so-called standard bottle that does not have any individualization features and is used by an indefinite number of manufacturers will.

In the case of returnable bottles that are permanently marked in such a way that they differ from bottles from other manufacturers / distributors and are clearly identifiable as the property of a specific manufacturer (so-called individual bottles), the property remains with the manufacturer / distributor and is not transferred to the subsequent trading levels Transfer the purchaser of the contents of the bottle. This includes B. the individual Coca-Cola bottles, as these can always be assigned to the manufacturer.

In contrast, the transfer of ownership in the case of so-called standard bottles extends not only to the content but also to the bottle itself. This applies equally to all sales levels and even if the manufacturer / distributor has expressly excluded ownership of the bottle in its general terms and conditions.

The legal position remains in dispute with bottles that cannot be assigned to a specific manufacturer, but to a manufacturer group, which the BGH has not decided, but which it takes the view that the manufacturer should return the bottles that are embossed and labeled in this way, that the assignment to the producer is permanently recognizable, - reinforced by the promised reimbursement of the deposit amount - is expected. This includes returnable bottles from the respective bottling associations (e.g. the German Wells Cooperative (GDB), which erroneously refers to their bottles as loan bottles ). In the meantime, the GDB mainly issues PET bottles, before that glass bottles (the so-called standard well bottles ) were used, both of which continue to be marked with the GDB seal.

Regardless of the question of ownership, returnable bottles can in principle be returned to any retailer who sells a brand in this bottle for a refund of the deposit amount previously paid. Since May 1, 2006, they can more generally be returned to any dealer who sells returnable bottles of the same type of material, even if it is not that brand. However, dealers whose sales area is less than 200 m² may refuse to accept bottles of other brands.

Austria

No general one-way deposit in Austria

In Austria there is no legally prescribed one-way deposit for cans and one-way plastic bottles. However, reusable bottles and, for example, yoghurt jars are still available in retail outlets, on which a voluntary deposit is levied by the manufacturer due to the recycling. Bottles and glasses that are subject to a deposit are colloquially referred to as deposit bottles in Austria. Reusable glass bottles also exist, but are primarily available in the catering trade, with the exception of beer and mineral water, these drinks are also available in retail in reusable glass bottles.

Amounts

In Austria , too , reusable bottles are partially subject to a deposit, whereby the one-way rate in 2018 was 81.6% (2013: 70.6%) and the reusable bottles are mainly used in gastronomy. Only reusable beer and a small amount of mineral water can be found in stores; For all other types of beverages, the reusable share is less than 1%. A deposit of 9 cents is charged for reusable beer bottles and a 36 cents deposit for the special swing-top bottles. There is a € 3 deposit for boxes. A deposit of 29 cents is charged for returnable PET bottles, as used by some mineral water and lemonade manufacturers, as well as for 1 liter glass bottles for mineral water.

Legal position

In Austria only the right to return plastic bottles to any retailer is regulated; in theory, glass bottles only have to be taken back by the retailer who issued them. But there are also more and more problems when someone wants to have the deposit paid out in cash.

Switzerland

Amounts

In Switzerland too, glass bottles theoretically only have to be taken back by the dealer who issued bottles of this type. For reusable beer bottles, a bottle deposit of between 30 and 50 cents is required today. For boxes including 20 bottles, there is usually a deposit of 10 francs .

The association PRS PET-Recycling Schweiz , founded in 1990, is responsible for the nationwide separate collection of PET non-returnable beverage bottles . 97% of Swiss beverage producers, importers, bottlers and retailers are affiliated to this. Since the return rate in 2008 with a consumption of over a billion PET bottles or 45,712 tons was 78%, PET bottles are still exempt from a deposit. PET recycling has been financed since January 2007 by an early recycling contribution of 1.8 cents / bottle, previously this had been 4 cents since July 2000.

Legal position

In Switzerland, the return and return of beverage packaging for domestic use and the financing of the disposal of beverage packaging made of glass are regulated in the Ordinance on Beverage Packaging (VGV) of July 5, 2000 issued by the Federal Council . Beverage packaging made of glass, PET and aluminum must demonstrate a recycling rate of at least 75% each. If this is not achieved, the Environment Department can stipulate a deposit.

Recovery rate

Development of the recycled quantities of beverage packaging:

year PET Alu Glass
2000 82% 90% 91%
2001 82% 91% 91%
2002 72% 91% 94%
2003 71% 85% 95%
2004 74% 88% 95%
2005 75% 90% 95%
2006 76% 90% 96%
2007 78% 90% 95%
2008 78% 91% 95%
2009 81% 91% 95%
2010 80% 91% 94%
2011 80% 91% 94%
2012 81% 92% 96%
2013 83% 91% 96%
2014 82% 92% 96%
2015 83% 91% 93%
2016 82% 90% 96%

Luxembourg

In Luxembourg , corked 1-liter wine bottles are subject to a deposit. 0.75 l and screwed wine bottles are deposit-free.

rest of Europe

European countries with bottle deposit systems.
  • Deposit for PET bottles and beverage cans
  • Deposit for PET bottles, not beverage cans
  • Bottle deposit planned
  • No deposit for PET bottles and beverage cans
  • Scandinavia

    While in most other European countries there is a bottle deposit for reusable glass beer bottles, the one-way deposit is mainly used in Scandinavia, but not in almost all other countries. Regulations have existed there for a long time. Sweden has the oldest deposit system. There has been a deposit system for the standardized 33 cl glass bottle since 1885. In 1984 a can deposit was added and in the 1990s a deposit was added on other glass and non-returnable PET bottles.

    Returpack is the licensee of the take-back system. Most of the returns are made using machines that immediately compress the packaging that has been taken back to save space. The system is financed through the sale of the disposable packaging that has been collected. The return rate is around 85% and is only slightly below the 90% required by law. Plastic bottles are basically one-way bottles. In September 2010 the deposit on beverage cans was increased from 0.50 to 1.00  SEK in order to increase the response rate.

    The deposit charged in Sweden is for:

    • Beverage cans: SEK 1.00 (approx. € 0.1)
    • 0.33 l glass bottles: SEK 0.60 (approx. € 0.06)
    • 0.5 l glass bottles: SEK 0.90 (approx. € 0.09)
    • PET bottles up to 1 l: SEK 1.00 (approx. € 0.1)
    • PET bottles over 1 l: 2.00 SEK (approx. 0.2 €)

    In Norway , the deposit was introduced in 1999 at the same time as aluminum cans were allowed. The changeover was unproblematic, as reverse vending machines have existed across the board since the 1970s. The following deposit amounts currently apply in Norway:

    • Bottles and cans up to 0.5 l: NOK 2.00 (approx. € 0.2)
    • Bottles and cans over 0.5 l: NOK 3.00 (approx. € 0.3)
    Deposit price level C in Denmark

    In Denmark there is also a one-way deposit on PET bottles and cans. The sale of beverage cans was banned from 1982 to 2002. After years of dispute with the European Union , the Danes gave in and allowed beverage cans again. The following deposit amounts currently apply in Denmark:

    • PET beverage cans and glass bottles up to 1 l: DKK 1.00 = approx. € 0.13 (Pant A)
      • Exception: PET bottles of 0.5 l: 1.50 DKK = approx. 0.20 € (Pant B)
    • PET beverage cans and glass bottles from 1 l: 3.00 DKK = approx. 0.40 € (Pant C)

    Also Finland has a national collection system called Palpa. The mandatory deposit for one-way packaging has existed since January 1, 2008. The following deposit amounts are specified:

    • € 0.10 on refillable glass bottles for alcoholic beverages (0.3 l to 0.75 l), on recyclable glass bottles (0.15 l to 2.0 l) and on PET bottles with a capacity of up to 0.35 l.
    • € 0.15 on beverage cans
    • € 0.20 on refillable plastic bottles with a capacity of 0.5 l and on PET bottles with a capacity between 0.35 l and 1.0 l.
    • € 0.40 on glass bottles with a capacity of 1.0 l, refillable plastic bottles with a capacity of 1.0 l or 1.5 l and on PET bottles with a capacity of over 1.0 l.

    By Alko and Lidl bottles are issued which can only be returned by these chains.

    Estonia

    Estonia deposit symbol ("B" on 1½ l bottle)

    In Estonia there has been a uniform take-back system (Eesti Pandipakend) for one-way and reusable beverage containers since 2009. The deposit is always € 0.10, but other packaging classes are used:

    • (A) PET bottles up to and including 0.5 l
    • (B) PET bottles over 0.5 l
    • (C) Beverage cans
    • (D) disposable glass bottles

    Furthermore, all returnable bottles are marked with the deposit symbol (K).

    France

    In France , as in Spain and Morocco , there used to be the so-called star bottles, which were 1-liter returnable wine bottles with 4–6 stars around the neck. Nowadays these bottles are only available in Morocco. There is no nationwide deposit system in France. Individual companies such as breweries, especially in Alsace , have their own returnable deposit systems.

    Croatia

    In Croatia , a mandatory deposit of 0.50 kuna was introduced on January 1, 2006 for one-way beverage packaging with more than 0.2 l content.

    The one-way deposit (mostly plastic bottles and cans) can be redeemed in all larger shops that sell one-way deposit containers. In the case of reusable deposits (boxes with glass bottles), these are only taken back in the shops (branches) and the deposit is reimbursed in which the bottles were bought and the deposit was paid. For this purpose, the receipt must be shown to the cashier accordingly. The returnable deposit will not be refunded without a receipt. An exchange of empty for full is possible without any problems, but no payment of the deposit.

    Lithuania

    In Lithuania , a deposit of 10 cents has been charged for beverage packaging, whether glass, PET or aluminum, since 2016. The articles on which the deposit was deposited received a different EAN code. The deposit symbol is a "D" -like sign. Returns are made via vending machines, which are usually located away from some supermarkets. Quite a few items have the Estonia pledge symbol at the same time. In 2017, a total of 274.3 million one-way packaging made of plastic, metal and glass was collected. The rate is 92%. The organizer is VŠĮ “Užstato sistemos administratorius” (USAD).

    Netherlands

    In the Netherlands , after a detailed discussion, a mandatory deposit for PET bottles and cans was waived in June 2006. The original plans were intended to counter the littering of the landscape (“zwerfafval”, “littering”). After previous unsuccessful voluntary commitments, the Ministry of the Environment (VROM), the Association of Cities (VNG) and the employers' association (VNO-NCW) have nevertheless agreed a further voluntary commitment. According to this, cities should, among other things, initially use inspectors for three years to punish the illegal disposal of packaging with fines. On one-way bottles (PET) with a content of 1 liter or more, a deposit ("statiegeld") of € 0.25 per bottle is charged. Since July 1, 2021, a deposit of € 0.15 per bottle has been levied on smaller one-way bottles. The prices in the shop are exclusive of the deposit. Many retailers have vending machines similar to those in Germany. All cans are deposit-free; a deposit can (voluntarily) be levied on reusable glass beer bottles, but this is not required by law. If such a deposit is charged for beer bottles, it is € 0.10 for smaller bottles and € 0.20 for larger bottles. According to a new law, however, can deposit is to be introduced from December 31, 2022.

    Portugal

    In Portugal there is a returnable deposit on various soft drinks and beer.

    Spain

    In Spain, like in France and Morocco, there used to be the so-called star bottles, which were 1-liter returnable wine bottles with 4–6 stars around the neck. Nowadays these bottles are only available in Morocco.

    Czech Republic

    In the Czech Republic , all 0.5 liter returnable beer bottles are subject to a deposit of 3 kroner (around 0.11 euros). In the beginning, bottle shapes that were very similar to the German NRW bottle were used, but now almost all beers are bottled in individual bottle shapes (some with embossing). One reason for the change was the gap to the German 8 euro cent deposit, which resulted in a drastic increase in German empties in the D / CZ border area. Cans and PET bottles are not subject to a deposit.

    Rest of the world

    North America

    Bottle deposit systems in North America
  • Deposit for most bottles and beverage cans
  • Deposit only for beer / alcoholic beverage containers
  • Bottle deposit canceled
  • No bottle deposit
  • Bottle bills are also available in North America . 10 US states have introduced one-way deposit regulations known as the container deposit legislation . However, there is no nationwide regulation. The first of its kind was the Oregon Bottle Bill , introduced in 1972. Based on this name, can deposit regulations are often colloquially referred to as bottle bill . The following states have such laws:

    • Connecticut (Deposit: US $ 0.05 ), introduced in 1980
    • Delaware (deposit: US $ 0.05), introduced in 1982, canceled in 2009
    • Hawaii (deposit: US $ 0.05), introduced in 2005
    • Iowa (deposit: US $ 0.05, also on wine bottles), introduced in 1979
    • California (US $ 0.05, US $ 0.10 for bottles over 24 fl oz [just under 710 ml]), introduced in 1987, 25% increase in 2007; However, the majority of retailers do not take back empties, so that the majority of the returnable bottles and cans are in fact disposed of with the garbage without a deposit being refunded.
    • Maine (deposit: US $ 0.05), introduced in 1978
    • Massachusetts (deposit: US $ 0.05), introduced in 1983
    • Michigan ($ 0.10 deposit), introduced in 1978
    • New York (deposit: US $ 0.05), introduced in 1982
    • Oregon ($ 0.05 deposit), introduced in 1972
    • Vermont (Deposit: US $ 0.05), introduced in 1973

    A deposit is also required in all provinces and territories of Canada excluding Nunavut . So z. B. For the Ontario Deposit Return Program, a deposit of CAD 0.10 to CAD 0.20 is levied on containers of alcoholic beverages. In Québec , the deposit also includes soft drinks. The deposit here is between 0.05 and 0.20 CAD.

    South America

    Deposit systems also exist in Argentina , Chile and Uruguay . The problem here is that customers do not receive any money when they return them. Without additional costs, only the exchange works in the same quality and quantity.

    Africa

    In Morocco, as in France and Spain, there are the so-called star bottles, 1-liter returnable wine bottles with 4–6 stars around the neck.

    Australia

    Bottle deposit in Australia
  • Bottle deposit system in force
  • Bottle deposit system planned (Tasmania: 2022; Victoria: 2023)
  • There is a deposit on cans and glass bottles in the state of South Australia . It's included in the retail price of the drink and is AUD 0.10 . In Australia, bottles and cans are labeled with: "10 cent refund if sold in South Australia". Since 2011, based on the existing system in South Australia, the Northern Territory has also introduced a deposit on one-way beverage packaging.

    In the state of Queensland, a deposit on beverage bottles and cans was introduced on November 1, 2018.

    Bottle collector

    Bottle collector at a recycling container in Berlin , 2013
    Deposit ring on a rubbish bin in Cologne

    The bottle deposit has led to the phenomenon of bottle collectors observed in all major cities in Germany and other countries. These people collect deposit bottles that have been left lying around or illegally thrown away, or incorrect throws placed next to deposit machines , or look for them in (mainly public) rubbish bins or waste glass containers and return them to the deposit system. The reason is often assumed to be a precarious situation for the people involved. According to scientific research, financial merit is a central, but not the only motive of bottle collectors. In fact, economically secure people also do this job. Occasional cases are known in which bottle collectors earned thousands of euros and even paid taxes, but this is the exception. Often the activity of collecting bottles is carried out temporally and spatially close to situations in which more drinks are consumed in public, i.e. on the fringes of festivals and sporting events, at train stations and near discos , often on weekends and in particular in the evening and night hours. Working as a bottle collector is often associated with a social stigma .

    In September 2017 it became known that the Munich District Court sentenced a 76-year-old pensioner who had repeatedly taken bottles from containers at Munich Central Station to fines of 450 and 500 euros. This was preceded by a complaint from Deutsche Bahn for trespassing . The railway pointed out that the search of bottle containers is forbidden nationwide. Fundraising campaigns for the condemned raised around 1,500 euros.

    Bottle collectors sometimes use special devices to be able to get empties out of disposal containers. Since the bottles in the container are the property of the disposal company, removing them is a theft , but is rarely punished.

    In 2011, Matthias Seeba-Gomille launched the nationwide initiative Pfand is part of life in Berlin . Owners of a drunk deposit can / bottle are made aware of the need to put their empty cans and bottles in favor of bottle collectors either next to the garbage can or in separate, self-made deposit boxes, which are provided by a Hamburg beverage producer, attached to lamp posts or traffic lights . This means that fewer beverage containers disappear in the garbage. Another idea comes from the Cologne design student Paul Ketz, in which orange / yellow so-called deposit rings designed by him are mounted on rubbish bins : A concept that is intended to "raise awareness" and on a political level, for example from the District Council of Charlottenburg- Wilmersdorf, or Bamberg as the first city in Germany , was officially taken over. The fact that people like the homeless or other interested people no longer have to rummage in rubbish bins, for example, in the opinion of the Hamburg street magazine Hinz & Kunzt, also enables a solution to no longer violate the house rules of Deutsche Bahn, for example. The campaign supported (s) well-known bands such as Beatsteaks or Jennifer Rostock and by June 2018 already more than 60,000 Facebook users.

    See also

    literature

    • Philipp Catterfeld and Alban Knecht (eds.): Collecting bottles. Survive in the city. UVK, Konstanz 2015. ISBN 978-3-86764-624-6
    • Sebastian J. Moser: Pledge Collector: Exploring an Urban Social Figure . 1st edition. Hamburger Edition, Hamburg 2014, ISBN 3-86854-276-0 , p. 269 .
    • Uta Hartlep and Rainer Souren: Recycling of one-way beverage packaging in Germany: Legal regulations and functioning of the implemented deposit system (= Norbert Bach and Gerrit Brösel [Ed.]: Ilmenauer Schriften zur Betriebswirtschaftslehre ). proWiWi, Ilmenau 2011, ISBN 978-3-940882-27-1 ( econstor.eu [PDF; 414 kB ]).
    • A country crazy about cans - the deposit makes empty beverage cans valuable. In: Die Zeit , No. 14/2004; Report on how the can deposit works behind the scenes

    Web links

    Wiktionary: Bottle deposit  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations
    Germany

    Individual evidence

    1. The 1-liter returnable bottle on weinheimat-wuerttemberg.de, accessed on December 25, 2021.
    2. BT-Drs. 16/3188
    3. BT-Drs. 16/2903
    4. Reusable shares in beverage consumption by beverage sector in the years 1991 to 2009 (in%) in the Federal Republic of Germany . (PDF; 105 kB) Federal Ministry for the Environment, 2011
    5. Reusable rate in free fall. (No longer available online.) Tagesschau.de, August 21, 2007, archived from the original on June 9, 2010 ; Retrieved January 11, 2013 .
    6. a b Jochen Cantner et al .: Evaluation of the Packaging Ordinance . Evaluation of the compulsory deposit . Ed .: Federal Environment Agency. No. 20/2010 , March 15, 2010 ( Umweltbundesamt.de [PDF; 3.9 MB ; accessed on August 26, 2021]).
    7. The big chaos at the deposit machine. New labeling required. Süddeutsche.de, September 6, 2010, accessed on January 11, 2013 .
    8. Beer packaging trend ( Memento from March 29, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Presseportal.de
    9. Where is the deposit slip? In: Die Zeit , No. 1/2004
    10. Coupons for can deposit disappear - Vfw joins P-System .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) vistaverde.de@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.vistaverde.de
    11. a b c d Matthias Trinks: Secret tax loophole in the deposit system - replica to Rüsch DStR 2015, 2414 . In: German Tax Law , 2016, pp. 158–160.
    12. BT-Drs. 18/11274 , p. 52.
    13. Reusable or disposable Changes in the Packaging Act on faz.net
    14. Foundation Central Office Packaging Register (publisher): Extended compulsory deposit for one-way beverage packaging from January 1, 2022 . Osnabrück October 2021, p. 1 ( packaging register.org [PDF; accessed on December 1, 2021]).
    15. FAQ change in law. Compulsory deposit for many packaging. In: tagesschau.de. May 28, 2021, accessed December 1, 2021 .
    16. Lea Busch, Johannes Edelhoff: Beverage deposit: New law, new exceptions. In: NDR. January 20, 2021, accessed December 1, 2021 .
    17. BMU - Waste Management: Questions and answers on can deposit - C) Return and deposit refund at the retailer. (PDF) BMU, November 2014, accessed on November 5, 2016 .
    18. Expensive civic duty - can deposit for the bin . n-tv.de
    19. Idle to China. In: Die Zeit , No. 20/2010, p. 35.
    20. Kurt Schüler: Volume and recovery of packaging waste in Germany in 2012 . (PDF; 4.8 MB) In: TEXTE , 50/2015, June 2015, Federal Environment Agency .
    21. about C. Schlautmann: Different VAT calculation: New glitch with can deposit . In: Handelsblatt -Online from June 1, 2006 (accessed on January 29, 2016).
    22. Jens Brambusch: Bottle empty . In: Capital , 7/2015, p. 72 f.
    23. Florian Pronold : Answer of July 8, 2015 to the minor question from the Bundestag member Ronja Schmitt , BT-Drs. 18/5536 , pp. 81–83.
    24. ^ A b Gary Rüsch: € 40 million input tax gap in the deposit system? In: German Tax Law , 2015, pp. 2414–2418.
    25. Section 185, Paragraph 22 of the Sales Tax Guidelines (UStR).
    26. Section 149 (8) UStR
    27. BFH, judgment of June 6, 1973, Az.IR 203/71, full text = BStBl II 1973, 727.
    28. a b c BGH, judgment of July 9, 2007, Az. II ZR 232/05, full text = NJW 2007, 2913; Rn. 10 f.
    29. Legal requirements for the return of one-way beverage packaging subject to a deposit (Note: The content of this footnote only relates to one-way beverage packaging). In: dpg-pfandsystem.de. Retrieved December 15, 2018 .
    30. Implementation report 2018 on the Sustainability Agenda 2030. In: Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO). Retrieved August 14, 2019 .
    31. a b Fact sheet beverage packaging. In: Österreichische Landesumweltreferentinnenkonferenz (LURK) 2015. Accessed on August 14, 2019 .
    32. Legal uncertainty regarding bottle deposit , ORF-help from July 29, 2006.
    33. Media releases from July 23, 2009, Zurich: 78%: Over a billion PET bottles recycled ( Memento from March 26, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Association PRS PET-Recycling Switzerland and the Federal Office for the Environment , July 23, 2009
    34. ^ Ordinance on beverage packaging (VGV) of July 5, 2000.
    35. bafu.admin.ch (PDF)
    36. Swedish Standards Institute: Nyhetsbrev Förpackningar, no. 1/99 ( Memento from December 24, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 114 kB)
    37. System for returning cans and bottles .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) palpa.fi@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.palpa.fi
    38. Alko recycles your empties . ( Memento of July 4, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) alko.fi
    39. Kuidas pandisusteem tootab
    40. Ministarstvo financija: Ne naplaćuje se PDV na naknadu za povrat ambalaže. In: index.hr. January 10, 2006, accessed February 3, 2019 (Croatian).
    41. ^ Beverage Container Legislation Around the World: Croatia. In: Bottle Bill Resource Guide. May 7, 2011, accessed February 3, 2019 .
    42. Gyventojai entuziastingai priduoda tara per birzeli sunese 8 mln
    43. Bottle Bills in the USA. Retrieved December 23, 2013 .
    44. ^ All Provinces Table (Canada) . In: Bottle Bill . Bottle Bill. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
    45. bagitback.ca - Eligible items & return rates. Archived from the original on November 7, 2011 ; Retrieved November 8, 2013 .
    46. bottlebill.org - Recycling Legislation in Canada: Québec. Retrieved November 8, 2013 .
    47. Guide (PDF; 579 kB)
    48. Sebastian Jan Moser: Pledge Collector. Explorations of an urban social figure , Hamburger Edition 2014, ISBN 978-3-86854-276-9 .
    49. Philipp Catterfeld and Alban Knecht (eds.): Flaschensammeln. Survival in the City , UVK 2015, ISBN 978-3-86764-624-6 .
    50. Sociologist: "Collecting money is not everything". In: Welt-Online. June 16, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2012 .
    51. 13,000 euros in 30 days: Bottle collector earns not badly , TV report on n-tv from August 3, 2011, accessed on June 18, 2012.
    52. Katharina Schwirkus: Bottle collectors don't have a lobby. Anyone who wants to earn something with a deposit usually fights for themselves and has no recognition . In: Neues Deutschland from August 22, 2017, p. 11.
    53. Now others are collecting for Ms. Leeb .
    54. ^ Matthias Seeba-Gomille: Appeal .
    55. Pfand belongs next to it , official website, accessed on March 31, 2012.
    56. a b Stefan Strauss: Initiatives in Berlin: a deposit is a part of it! In: Berliner Zeitung . November 3, 2012, accessed March 31, 2014 .
    57. ↑ Aid campaign for bottle collectors: "Unworthy when people have to dig in the garbage". In: Focus Online . February 22, 2014, accessed March 31, 2014 .
    58. ↑ It is forbidden to collect deposits. In: Hinz & Kunzt . January 2012, accessed March 31, 2014 .