Half a billion bottles returned

Written by Christina Vontin

According to the concessionaire MOHU, at least 90% of the 3 billion beverage containers in circulation are to be returned within three years.

There are currently 3,700 return points available to consumers, 1,300 of which are manual collection points. This number is set to rise further. Shops can decide for themselves whether they want to set up a new return point. They receive a processing fee from the MOHU for every bottle they take back. In return, they are responsible for the daily operation, cleaning and emptying of the machines and keeping the surrounding area clean. With half a billion bottles, cans and jars already returned, the deposit system has reached another milestone.

The paper voucher is proving to be the most popular form of deposit return. So far, more than 20 billion forints (approx. 50 million euros) have been paid out in this way. The option of transferring the redemption fee directly to the customer’s bank account is used by 10-15% of collectors and is currently unique in Europe. More than 1 million people have already downloaded the app required for this. There is also the option to donate the deposit amount to charity. The approximately 70 million forints donated so far will benefit three national children’s institutions: the Central Children’s Hospital ‘Pál Heim’, the Bethesda Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Hospital of Semmelweis University.