Slovakia has to back up up to 90 percent of beverage packaging. Deputies approved an amendment to the law
By 2025, at least 90 percent of plastic and metal disposable beverage packaging is to be backed up. These goals are set out in a new law on the deposit of disposable beverage packaging, which was approved by members of the National Council on Thursday.
Backup is gaining momentum
The Ministry of the Environment wants at least 60 percent of plastic and metal packaging to be backed up by the end of 2022. By the end of 2023 it should be 80 percent, by the end of 2024 85 percent of bottles and cans should be returned.
Back-up disposable beverage containers should not be sold on international means of transport or in a duty-free zone. the possibility is that it is not possible to go back and get back the deposit.
“Manufacturers market different types of beverage packaging and not every disposable plastic and metal beverage packaging that meets the specified volume condition has dimensions that can be technically removed by the collection infrastructure, ie vending machines,” argues the ministry.
According to the ministry, it should also apply that the producers of packaging who will collect from the deposit should not pay fees. However, they will also be included in the extended producer responsibility scheme and will bear the costs of collection or recycling.
Motivation for smaller distributors
An option will be introduced for a distributor operating less than 300 meters, not paying customers a cash advance, but giving him a voucher.
“The instrument is an incentive for smaller distributors, who join the system on a voluntary basis to decide to set up collection points, thus ensuring a sufficient distribution network for consumers,” Current resort.
A more rigorous control of the administrators’ income from backups, the use of which is subject to the consent of the Ministry, is also to be ensured.
The priority should be not to pay advances, not to pay penalties for providing non-compliance with return targets, and not to reduce the effect of penalties so that producers do not relieve themselves of their responsibility to finance the system.