A deposit system for drinks packaging designated as 'one way’ is being implemented across Germany. Consumers will be charged a 25c deposit (about 16p) on drinks containers to encourage the use of reusable containers such as glass and plastic bottles.
APEAL says steel should be treated as a reusable material because it has a high recycling rate. But because steel cans are recycled, rather than being simply refilled as happens with bottles, they are subject to the levy.
Germany’s Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig yesterday rejected an appeal against the implementation of the deposit in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia, in effect clearing the way for the levy to take effect throughout Germany.
Problem
A spokesman for Apeal said that the deposit obligation would not achieve improved environmental performance for drinks packaging. This is because there is already an exceptionally high recycling rate for steel, and the new deposit on steel beverage containers could achieve only a 3% increase in the recycling rate for used steel packaging of all kinds, he said.
A further problem is that there is no harmonised system yet for handling the deposits, forcing consumers to return cans to the point of sale to receive their refund.
The association said that around 7 billion drinks are sold in metal cans in Germany annually, 90% of which are steel. Of these, 78% are recycled.
APEAL is to maintain legal actions against “unjustified” deposits on one-way packaging both in Germany elsewhere in the European Union.
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