Slovakia launches new deposit rebate system

On January 1, 2022, Slovakia launched a new deposit return system for cans and plastic bottles
.
The new scheme, designed to encourage the recycling of empty beverage containers, both addresses beverage container litter and will help meet EU collection targets for plastic beverage bottles
.

Bottles and consumable cans are recycled separately through a deposit system, and beverage containers are collected in household recycling bins without contamination
.
This ensures that the container can be recycled into new bottles and cans,

Additionally, implementing such schemes elsewhere has resulted in a 30-84% reduction in beverage waste, depending on the deposit value
.
Well-performing deposit-back programs typically collect 90 percent or more of their containers for recycling
.

Slovakia, which sells around 1.
3 billion beverage containers annually, aims to recycle at least 60% of eligible containers by the end of 2022 and 90% by 2025
.
If successful, it would put Slovakia four years ahead of the target of the EU's Single-Use Plastics Directive, which requires member states to collect 90% of single-use plastic bottles individually by 2029
.

The deposit system covers almost all beverages in plastic bottles or cans with a volume of 0.
1 to 3 liters, but excludes packaging of milk and milk beverages, syrups and alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of more than 15%
.
The deposit for all containers is EUR 0.
15; eligible containers are marked with a large Z symbol inside the recycling arrow icon
.
This symbol will be located near the barcode on the container, along with the text "ZALOHOVANE" which means "deposit"
.
 

The system in Slovakia will use a "retail-to-retail" infrastructure: Containers can be recycled to grocery stores where beverages are usually sold
.
To this end, mandatory and voluntary collection points will be set up, and around 1,700 reverse vending machines – an automated method of collecting, sorting and disposing of used beverage containers – will be installed in around 2,000 stores in Slovakia
.

Participation in the system is mandatory for large grocery retailers with an area of ​​more than 300 square meters
.
In most cases, these stores have opted to install reverse vending machines
.
Smaller stores can voluntarily participate in the program
.
In these smaller stores, containers can be returned at the checkout and scanned there manually
.

A recent survey showed that almost 86% of people in Slovakia support local legislation on the deposit rebate system
.