Reusable deposit: More and more bottles end up in the trash

Empty beer and soda bottles are increasingly becoming a part of the cityscape in Germany. The VKU (Association of Public Utilities) and several municipal waste disposal companies are observing that empty reusable bottles, which usually carry a deposit of 8 to 15 cents, are increasingly being left as litter in public spaces. This was reported by the Berlin association, which represents around 1,600 municipal members from various sectors, in response to an inquiry by the German Press Agency.

Upon request, the municipal waste disposal companies in Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Düsseldorf also reported that reusable glass bottles are increasingly being left lying around. "We can confirm that reusable glass bottles with a low deposit value of eight cents in particular are increasingly being left behind in public spaces," says the Hamburg City Cleaning Service. This is especially evident after street festivals and picnic weekends.

In Munich, there's a trend toward more bottles being left behind, especially at events, according to the Department of Public Works. Berlin's City Cleaning Service and Stuttgart's Waste Management, however, report no increase.

In many cities, such as Hamburg, the abandoned bottles are burned. They are often damaged or dirty. It is also said that there is hardly enough time to collect and return the bottles.

According to the VKU, the reason bottles are being left behind is that the reusable deposit hasn't been adjusted for decades. The reusable deposit for regular glass beer bottles is eight cents. This amount was converted to the euro from the old 15 pfennigs. Unlike the one-way deposit (25 cents), the deposit for reusable bottles is not based on a legal requirement. Instead, the beverage industry has agreed on the system and the deposit amount.

Tobias Bielenstein, spokesperson for the reusable bottle working group, sees no reason to question the amount: The deposit has remained stable for decades because no changes have been necessary. The return rate is approximately 98 to 99 percent. The few bottles that remain, especially in cities, are not a problem for the reusable bottle system. The working group is an alliance of environmental organizations and the beverage industry.

The VKU, however, points out that the value of the deposit has decreased over time due to inflation: "For many consumers, returning reusable glass bottles therefore no longer seems worthwhile." Deposit collectors also avoided the bottles because of their lower value and higher weight. This observation is confirmed by waste disposal companies.

The VKU demands that businesses agree to increase the deposit on bottles and crates. If that fails, policymakers must set a minimum amount. One company that has been advocating for a deposit increase for years is Fritz-Kola from Hamburg. Fritz-Kola's co-founder, Mirco Wolf Wiegert, proposes a deposit of 20 to 25 cents per bottle.

The Association of Private Breweries in Germany, which represents small and medium-sized businesses, also wants a deposit increase. Breweries are losing bottles and crates, said federal director Roland Demleitner. It would be cheaper for retailers to melt down a few crates instead of shipping them back to breweries across the country. However, the change can only happen if the industry reaches a consensus.

But that's not what's currently looking like: Major associations in the beverage industry are rejecting reform. Most members of the German Brewers' Association, for example, oppose a deposit increase, said CEO Holger Eichele. His association also represents major breweries, such as the Bitburger Group.

Eichele criticized: "It's poorly thought-out to demand deposit rates of 20 or 25 cents for reusable bottles in the future." A new bottle costs about 20 to 21 cents. If a new bottle were cheaper than the deposit, it would be cheaper for breweries to buy new bottles instead of collecting and cleaning the old ones. Furthermore, a changeover would be complicated, would have to be implemented by a specific date, and would lead to high costs that could push small breweries into debt.

The Association of German Mineral Water Producers, with around 150 member companies, also opposes a change. The Federal Association of German Beverage Wholesalers, which represents around 450 companies, also opposes an increase.

What seems complicated in Germany has already happened in Austria: As of February 2, the deposit on a 0.5-liter glass bottle increased from 9 to 20 cents. The Austrian Breweries Association justified the move by pointing out that around 6 percent of beer bottles in circulation ended up in waste glass, residual waste, or in the countryside.

Regarding the effects in Austria, an association spokesperson said: "Based on our observations, consumers are handling beverage packaging material more carefully." However, no figures are available.

RND/dpa