From next year, producers and importers of plastic products will also receive a discount on the amount they pay to collect and recycle non-sustainable plastic in full. Many producers are not yet able to meet all the requirements and for this reason they will receive some discounts from January if plastic packaging is a little more sustainable.
The Packaging Waste Trust Foundation is responsible for collecting and recycling packaging on behalf of the business community. Companies now get a rebate of 26 cents per kilo of plastic if the packaging meets all sustainability requirements, for example if it consists entirely of recycled plastic.
Starting in 2024, companies will receive a discount ranging from 10 to 50 cents, depending on the requirements the products meet. Through the discounts, the Waste Fund wants to reward companies for packaging that is not yet fully sustainable, but also encourage companies to make their packaging more environmentally friendly.
The government aims to achieve a fully circular economy by 2050. The Netherlands must therefore use much fewer raw materials and use materials more economically. Managing Director Hester Klein Lankhorst of the Waste Fund says the rebates are an important step towards a circular economy.
The Packaging Waste Trust was recently reprimanded for missing its plastic drinks bottle collection target. Last year, 68% of all plastic bottles were collected, well below the legally required 90%.
A spokesman for the Waste Fund said that the Waste Fund will soon develop an action plan.
Courtney Horton is a contributor at Houstonian Online, covering news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. She focuses on clear, accurate, and reader-friendly reporting, providing useful information and timely coverage of current events, trends, and stories that matter to communities and everyday readers.