In a significant move towards environmental sustainability, the Czech government has approved a new bill introducing a deposit system for PET bottles and cans. The decision, championed by the Ministry of Environment, comes despite strong criticism from municipalities and some business associations.
Environment Minister Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL) emphasized the urgent need for this system, stating, “Today, 400 million PET bottles and 500 million cans end up in nature, incinerators, or landfills. Although we sort waste quite well, we recycle very poorly”. The new law aims to address this issue by implementing a 4-crown deposit on PET containers and cans.
The deposit system, set to be fully operational by 2026 if passed by parliament, will establish around 11,000 return points across the country. Consumers will be able to return their bottles and cans not only at stores larger than 50 square meters but also at gas stations. This initiative aligns with European Union requirements, as the Czech Republic must collect at least 90 percent of plastic beverage bottles by weight by 2029.
However, the proposal has sparked a heated debate. While beverage manufacturers and environmental organizations like Greenpeace, Hnutí Duha, and Arnika support the initiative, viewing the current waste sorting system as inefficient, retailers and municipalities stand in opposition. Some local authorities, who currently profit from waste sorting, fear losing valuable resources.
The controversy reached a new level this week when opponents of the scheme, including representatives from the Union of Towns and Municipalities, the Union of Local Governments, the Association of Regions, and the Chamber of Commerce, sent a letter to Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) urging rejection of the deposit system. They argue that the proposal’s impact on citizens and municipalities is “clearly negative”.
Interestingly, the Food Chamber, despite being a member of the Chamber of Commerce, has distanced itself from this opposition. Dana Večeřová, president of the Food Chamber, noted that previous discussions on the deposit system within the Chamber of Commerce had not reached a unanimous conclusion, with some members welcoming the introduction of deposits while others oppose it.