International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

16.3.2 Sweden
Deposit refund schemes are in place in Sweden for glass, PET and aluminium drinks
containers. Both refillable and one-way containers are managed under the system. A
number of materials-specialist companies manage the scheme, for example, Ab
Svenska Returpack-Pet, Svenska Returglas 50-Cl Ab and Ab Svenska Returpack.
Deposits are paid as follows: 327
308
� Cans: €0.04;
� 0.33 L glass bottle: €0.05;
� 0.50 L glass bottle: €0.08;
� ≤ 1 L non-refillable PET bottle: €0.09; and
� > 1 L non-refillable PET bottle: €0.18.
In one small Swedish municipality, a deposit-refund system has been put into place
for batteries. A very small (€0.03) deposit is levied on each battery sold, and this is
redeemed when the battery is returned to one of the shops participating in the
scheme. The estimated result is that approximately 80% of batteries are returned.
The cost of the system is covered by the municipal budget.
16.3.3 Germany
For car batteries, the consumer has to pay €7.50 if he buys a new car battery without
returning a used one. A number of states in the USA also operate these schemes.
Usually the replaced battery must be returned to the retailer of the new one within 30
days.
For beverage containers, Germany has a deposit refund scheme on non-refillable
containers as a result of the failure to meet certain recycling and reuse targets that
were set in the Packaging Ordinance. Germany differs from the Scandinavian model
because no single enterprise is given the sole right or obligation to operate a
nationwide system. The DPG (Deutsche Pfandsystem GmbH) was established to
coordinate the deposit refund system making it possible for the independent system
participants to operate on an equal and fair basis (see Annex 17.0).
16.3.4 Taiwan
Taiwan has used a deposit refund system for PET bottles since 1989. Manufacturers
and importers pay fees into a recycling management fund, and the end-consumers
are given a refund when they return the bottle to a designated collection site. The
fees are set by a Recycling Fund Management Board, on a level per kilogram plus the
per bottle refund amount. For example, in 1998, PET bottles attracted a fee of
327 Sveriges Brygerier, accessed 2009, http://www.sverigesbryggerier.se/eng/1-emballage/1index.html
29/09/09