Eunomia was commissioned by Recycling Netwerk Benelux to assess the Netherlands’ plans to introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS) for cans.
The Netherlands is mandated to introduce a deposit return scheme (DRS) for cans by 31st December 2022. The DRS is legally required to achieve a 90% separate capture rate by 2024, enabling improved recycling performance and significant litter reductions. The Netherlands already has DRS provision for single-use plastic bottles and reusable beer bottles.
Recycling Netwerk Benelux commissioned Eunomia to provide a report assessing the proposed DRS design for cans set out by Afvalfonds Verpakkingen in December 2021 on behalf of industry.
The Eunomia study addresses two questions. Firstly, it was asked to consider how likely this plan for DRS provision for cans in the Netherlands is to deliver the 90% capture rate once fully functional, and secondly, how likely the system is to be up and running effectively by the start of 2023.
The study identified a number of performance risks in the proposal, that in combination would make it unlikely to match the top-performing schemes that achieve 90% capture rates internationally. The study also concluded that the limited time available, meant the complex installation requirements would be extremely challenging to deliver by the deadline.
