One billion bottles and cans recycled

Written by Christina Vontin

After six months of operation, the Hungarian deposit system is recording impressive return figures of 100 bottles per second.

The so-called REpont shops – in addition to environmentally conscious customers – have contributed significantly to this success. They have already received compensation payments totalling 7.2 billion forints (approx. 17.5 million euros) from the recycling concessionaire MOHU. These funds are used for the operation and maintenance of the reverse vending machines and the cleaning of their surroundings. In smaller shops, beverage containers are returned and stored manually until they are collected.

Unlike in many other countries, shops under 400 square metres are not obliged to join the deposit system in Hungary. Nevertheless, manual or automatic return is already possible in most localities. Since the introduction of the system, consumers have redeemed vouchers worth 40 billion forints in shops – in addition to the alternatives of bank transfers and donations. This development could serve as motivation for retailers who have not yet joined the system.

On average, consumers return 18 bottles or cans per transaction. The most frequently used machine has already collected more than 1.1 million drinks containers. Between the public holidays, the number of returns reached record levels nationwide and exceeded 10 million containers on several days.