Reloop Programme 3
Money Back
When packaging is subject to deposits or charges it can increase both return rate and the quality of the recyclable material.
Increase return rate
Financial mechanisms can be used to increase the return rate of certain packaging.
The most effective approach is to put a small money deposit onto packaging. This incentivises the consumer to return the packaging to a dedicated return point, so they can get their deposit back.
The most common type of deposit return system is for beverage packaging – aluminium cans, and glass and plastic bottles.
The purpose of these financial mechanisms is to ensure the highest volume of packaging material can be collected.
Better quality material
When the packaging is collected by material type at the return point – for example, glass is separated from plastic – the packaging material is of the highest quality.
This means it is suitable for ‘closed loop recycling’, where it can be recycled back into the same type of packaging, allowing a plastic bottle to become a plastic bottle again.
This reduces the need for virgin materials as there is more recycled content available and this in turn helps to reduce the carbon impact of packaging production.
Key Reloop resources for Money Back
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Global Deposit Book 2022
A comprehensive summary of over 50 DRSs that are currently in place – including those scheduled to be implemented by the end of 2022.
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A Guide to Modern Deposit Return Systems: 10 Essential Practices
10 key requirements for successful implementation of a DRS to serve as a roadmap for policymakers, advocates, and producers seeking the best public policy solutions.
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Consumer participation in DRS: Drivers, barriers, and implications
Fact sheet based on a thorough review of available consumer participation data from consumer surveys related to existing DRS.
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Redemption Podcast
Redemption is a podcast dedicated to exploring A Guide to Modern Deposit Return Systems: 10 Essential Practices.
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Deposit Return: How it Works
Beverage containers are one of the biggest contributors to litter. But there is a solution to this problem – it’s called a deposit return system. Watch this explainer and find out what you need to know.
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Deep-Dive into European EPR: Sweden
Recording of Reloop’s webinar focusing on Sweden’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy.
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Deposits by the Numbers
Article written for Resource Recycling, April 2023.
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A business case for deposit return
Article by Clarissa Morawski for Resource Recycling May, 2018.
Related features
Cet événement promet être rempli de discussions sur la consigne mixte en France et son impact sur l’environnement.
Conference by the European Committee of the Regions bringing together governments, DRS operators, experts, producers and technology providers to offer their expertise on the various components of best in class DRS systems.
Money Back forms part of Reloop’s five inter-related programmes, which work to establish a globally consistent approach to a circular economy for packaging.
Reloop Programme 1
Meaningful Measurement
Packaging measurable via fully transparent and accurate data.
Reloop Programme 2
Reuse Revolution
Packaging which is designed for circularity.
Reloop Programme 4
Collect More, Sort more
Packaging collected properly, with effective separation.
Reloop Programme 5
Closing the loop
Packaging made with mandated high levels of recycled content.