EU Deposit System: Leading the New Wave of Plastic Recycling

Recently, the European Union has taken a crucial step in the field of environmental protection, and the plastic packaging deposit system it has implemented has achieved remarkable results in stages. This system requires consumers to pay a certain deposit when purchasing goods with plastic packaging and refunds it when they recycle the plastic packaging, thus encouraging the public to participate in plastic recycling.



Since its implementation, the results have been remarkable. In Germany, according to relevant data, the plastic bottle recycling rate has jumped from 60% to 80%. In some communities in Berlin, through the improvement of recycling facilities and the active cooperation of the public, the recycling rate has even reached 90%. In the Netherlands, the government and enterprises have closely cooperated to establish an intelligent recycling network. The public can quickly complete the deposit refund process by simply putting plastic packaging into designated recycling equipment. The convenient operation has greatly increased public participation, and the recycling volume of plastic packaging in the country has increased by 30% within one year.



The relevant person in charge of the European Commission said that the deposit system is not only an environmental protection policy but also an important means to promote the development of the circular economy. Through economic incentives, enterprises will be urged to optimize packaging design, reduce unnecessary plastic use, and reduce plastic pollution from the source. At the same time, recycled plastics can be re - put into production, forming a circular use of resources.

Currently, the EU is planning to further expand the coverage of the deposit system, gradually extending from plastic bottles and plastic packaging to more plastic products. The successful implementation of this policy provides valuable experience for global plastic pollution governance and is expected to drive more countries and regions to adopt similar measures to jointly address the global challenge of plastic pollution.