We're all too familiar with tossing small plastic bottles without a second thought. But that's about to change. From July 1, 2021, you'll pay a deposit on them too—encouraging returns and slashing waste.
For years, initiatives have aimed to cut plastic pollution, with mixed results. Awareness is growing, though—people are switching to shampoo bars in cardboard packaging, reusable bags instead of free supermarket ones, and more sustainable options.
One major gap has been small drinks bottles. While larger 1-liter+ PET bottles already carry a deposit, smaller ones haven't—until now. Annually, 900 million small bottles are sold in the Netherlands, with around 100 million ending up as litter, harming wildlife and ecosystems.
That changes July 1, 2021. You'll pay a 15-cent deposit on all PET bottles under 1 liter, including that 500ml Coke or water bottle. Return empties at supermarkets, caterers, train station vendors, and major gas stations. The goal? 90% fewer bottles in the environment.
Some retailers have already adopted this—double-check your receipt to avoid throwing away your deposit money.
This deposit expansion is a key step forward. Discussions are underway for cans too, though implementation is years away.
The Netherlands is catching up. Germany has required deposits on all PET bottles and cans since 2003—shop or eat there, and return bottles for refunds. Nordic countries like Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland follow suit, seeing up to 95% drops in roadside plastic waste.
Source: government.nl
