Slovakia launches backup of PET bottles and cans.
Slovaks will have a big change in the sorting of cans and PET bottles since the new year. Since the launch of the new backup system, they will not be thrown into the yellow containers as before, but will not have to carry them back to collection points.
How will it work? “Deposits will be listed separately on price tags and receipts. However, what you must not forget is that the cans or PET bottles will not be trampled or otherwise lost before being handed over, so that you can read the EAN code correctly and evaluate the shape of the packaging so that the customer can get his deposit back, “ with Martin Grygařík, Sales Director of Plzeňský Prazdroj Slovakia and a member of the Supervisory Board of the Backup System Administrator. All sorted packaging will then travel to a sorting center, then they will be recycled, after which the used packaging will become new. In the case of Prazdroj, however, we are only talking about cans. This year, beer production has definitely ended with the production of beer in PET bottles and its sale to its customers, thus advancing in an effort to achieve full circulation of its packaging.
Slovakia has committed itself to increase the current collection of beverage packaging from 60% to 90% in 2025. In addition to the chance to become a landless country, backup can help nature much more by utilizing packaging. For example, the production of a recycled can requires only a fraction of the energy, thus saving the environment considerably. “Aluminum can be recycled indefinitely without changing parameters a recycled can can have up to 80% lower carbon footprint and its production consumes up to 95% less energy compared to a can made of virgin material, “ he says Martin Grygařík.
Aluminum is an excellent source of energy. Its largest share of consumption is the production of aluminum from primary raw materials. However, the can still requires energy in itself, then only a fraction of the energy is needed to melt the finished aluminum and produce a new product.
“We are sure that the Slovaks, in connection with the new deposit system, will welcome the possibility of returning the cans for sale and thus help to practically endless recycling of aluminum without affecting its quality. The can will thus once again become a can, which is in perfect harmony with our efforts to achieve full circulation of packaging by 2030, “ closes Martin Grygařík.