The Dutch government intends to further extend the deposit scheme from 1 January 2028. The deposit scheme will then apply to all plastic bottles up to and including 3 litres, meaning that bottles for juice and dairy products will also be covered by the scheme. These containers already count towards the statutory collection target for plastic drinks bottles, but not all of them are currently covered by the deposit scheme.
The expansion is intended to help achieve the statutory target of collecting 90 per cent of plastic drinks bottles and cans. This target is not yet being met. According to the government, there are, amongst other things, too few collection points, reverse vending machines do not always work properly, and long queues form at some locations. It is also not always clear to consumers which packaging is subject to a deposit and which is not. By extending the scheme and requiring more retail outlets to accept returns, the government aims to make the system simpler and more accessible.
In addition to extending the deposit scheme, the collection infrastructure is therefore also being adapted. More retail outlets that sell plastic bottles and tins will soon be required to accept these containers for return. Small shops are exempt from this requirement. Furthermore, retail outlets located close to one another may collaborate to install one or more refund machines jointly or direct consumers to a nearby collection point. The use of bulk machines, which allow consumers to return larger quantities of bottles and cans in a single transaction, must also be further expanded.
These measures are also in line with the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). From 2029, a target of 90 per cent separate collection of plastic beverage bottles and metal beverage containers will apply at European level. If the European requirements are not met, additional requirements may be imposed on the deposit-refund system. The Dutch extension of the deposit scheme and the strengthening of the collection infrastructure are therefore intended to help ensure that the Netherlands can meet these European obligations.
The Government aims to bring the amended rules into force on 1 January 2028. The regulations for this will be further developed later this year. For producers and importers of juice and dairy products, the extension means they must prepare in good time for the new obligations regarding deposits, packaging and collection.
