site.btaNGO Expert: Deposit-Refund System Cuts Illegal Dumping by 30%

Danita Zarichinova from the For the Nature environmental organization told BTA that a deposit-refund system reduces illegal dumping by 30% as packaging is 10 times less likely to be discarded outside designated areas. In December 2023, the NGO urged that the system be introduced across the country.

Several retail chains in Bulgaria collect plastic bottles and aluminium cans for recycling in exchange for a voucher for the amount of containers returned. Customers pay a deposit fee when buying a drink and get a full refund of the deposit when they return the empty container, Zarichinova said. "Deposit-refund systems increase both the amount of total recycling and the quality of recycled materials. The systems in Europe ensure an average of 90% high-quality recycling of the collected packaging. This leads to a more efficient economy and creates green jobs. In addition, a successful deposit-refund system is a big step towards reusing beverage packaging," the expert commented.

Dumping plastic bottles on the roadside is a loss of materials for the economy and costs money for incineration or disposal. This is one of the reasons why Bulgaria has paid over BGN 44 million a year in an EU tax based on the amount of non-recycled plastic packaging since 2021.

Zarichinova suggested that everyone could find a way to use fewer single-use plastic products, for instance, by bringing their own water bottle, cup and shopping bags. "We could also be more proactive by demanding that the municipal authorities improve separate waste collection," she said. Awareness campaigns, local policies and volunteering for clean-ups are other steps that could reduce waste in the long run.