Hungary launches new deposit return scheme for drink container recycling
Starting from January 1st, Hungary has implemented a new deposit return system (DRS) for recycling single-use drink containers. Manufacturer of reverse vending machines Tomra has partnered with Mohu (MOL Hulladékgazdálkodási Zrt.), the central system administrator for the DRS, to roll out a collection infrastructure aimed at making drink container returns as convenient as possible for recyclers.
This DRS covers ready-to-drink or concentrated beverages (except milk and milk-based beverages), in single-use aluminum cans and glass/plastic bottles, ranging from 0.1 liters to 3 liters in size. Consumers pay a deposit of 50 Hungarian forint (approximately 0.13 €) when purchasing an eligible drink, which is refunded to them once they return the empty drink container for recycling. Drink containers in Hungary can be returned to grocery retailers over 400m2 in size, and the growing number of voluntary and manual sites. This initiative aims to integrate recycling into consumers’ existing shopping routines.
Tomra has installed more than 1000 high-volume reverse vending machines (RVMs) for medium and large locations like supermarkets and hypermarkets in urban settings across Hungary, with the roll-out of further RVMs to continue in 2024. When a consumer inserts drink containers into an RVM, it automatically identifies and sorts the containers, and pays out the correct refund, more efficiently and securely than with a manual return of containers.
Hungary’s new DRS aligns with Mohu’s goals to promote a circular economy and reduce litter. The DRS also introduces Extended Producer Responsibility and strives to meet the European Union’s Single-Use Plastics Directive targets, requiring member countries to separately collect 90% of plastic beverage bottles by 2029.
Tomra established a local entity in Hungary in 2022, with Managing Director Dávid Bakos having now grown the organization to approximately 40 people. With over 50 years of experience in deposit return systems globally, Tomra operates across all parts of the value chain, including material pick-up, PET processing, and data management. Tomra’s approximately 82,000 reverse vending machines, in over 60 markets, collect over 45 billion drink containers for recycling each year.
“It’s important to emphasize that this cooperation is needed to protect our environment. Everyone has a responsibility: beverage producers, consumers, retailers selling beverages, and municipalities,” said Szilvia Szabó, Head of Producer Responsibility Systems at Mohu.
Hungary’s DRS follows closely after a new deposit return systems launched in the Australian state of Victoria on November 1st and in Romania on November 30th, and comes ahead of Ireland’s launch next month on February 1st, 2024.
