APEAL attacks German drink deposit system

Archiv – Now that the German Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig has rejected an appeal against implementation of a deposit system for one-way packaging in North-Rhine Westphalia, the deposit system is likely to be introduced all over Germany. And according to the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging (APEAL), consumers and the environment will be the losers.Now that the German Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig has rejected an appeal against implementation of a deposit system for one-way packaging in North-Rhine Westphalia, the deposit system is likely to be introduced all over Germany. And according to the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging (APEAL), consumers and the environment will be the losers.
The deposit obligation will not help in reaching the goal established under the 1991 Packaging Ordinance to preserve a large proportion of the market for refillable packaging as opposed to one-way packaging. Nor will the deposit system achieve improved environmental performance for drinks packaging, it is argued.
This latter point is particularly pertinent to steel packaging, according APEAL. Given the exceptionally high recycling rate for steel, the new deposit on steel beverage containers can achieve only a 3% increase in the recycling rate for all used steel packaging (all packaging applications included). The largest penalties will be reserved for those consumers who, regardless of their choice of packaging, will pay more for the same drinks.
To date, drinks marketed in metal cans have been successful in meeting consumer demand on the German market, with annual production reaching 7 billion cans of which 90% are made of steel. This market position is the result of long-term efforts aimed at improving convenience for the consumer and at building on the excellent environmental performance of the steel can.