The DRS applies to concentrated or ready-to-drink liquids, excluding milk and milk-based beverages in single-use glass or plastic bottles and aluminium cans with capacities ranging from 0.1 to three litres
Hungary has announced new DRS for drink container recycling. (Credit: TOMRA Systems ASA)
The Hungarian government in partnership with TOMRA and central system administrator MOL Hulladékgazdálkodási Zrt. (MOHU) has rolled out a new deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use drink container recycling.
The European country’s new DRS is intended to launch collection infrastructure to make drink container returns convenient for new recyclers.
The DRS applies to concentrated or ready-to-drink liquids, excluding milk and milk-based beverages in single-use glass or plastic bottles and aluminium cans with capacities ranging from 0.1 to three litres.
Under the scheme, customers pay about €0.13 deposit when purchasing an eligible drink, which is repaid to them when returning the empty drink container for recycling. This is like purchasing the beverage but using a borrowed container.
With the increasing number of voluntary and manual recycling locations, recycling has become a regular part of customers’ shopping habits.
In Hungary, drink containers larger than 400 square meters can be returned to grocery stores.
TOMRA, which is a reverse vending firm, has installed over 1,000 high-volume reverse vending machines (RVMs) for medium and large sites like supermarkets and hypermarkets in urban settings across the country.
The Norway-based company has plans to install more RVMs by the end of this year.
The machine automatically identifies and sorts drink containers and pays the relevant refund when a customer enters them into an RVM. This process is said to be faster and more secure than manual container returns.
TOMRA Collection Hungary managing director Dávid Bakos said: “We applaud Hungary’s bold steps toward a circular future, with today’s launch of the deposit return system a milestone in transforming waste management and promoting recycling.
“We look forward to working with MOHU further to secure solid public participation in the deposit return system and ensure a convenient network of return points for recycling.”
Hungary’s new DRS aims to fulfil MOHU’s objectives to reduce litter and encourage a circular economy.
The DRS also introduces Extended Producer Responsibility to meet the objectives of the European Union’s Single-Use Plastics Directive.
MOHU Producer Responsibility Systems head Szilvia Szabó said: “Our work so far with TOMRA allows us to kick off the DRS with well-established collection infrastructure ahead of the scheme’s start.
“We are looking forward to providing a high-performing DRS for our citizens together with strong support from our partners.”