Assessing international Deposit-Refund Systems: Lessons and transferable practices for Hungary

Abstract

In recent decades, the steady increase in plastic packaging waste has presented humanity with an increasingly difficult challenge. In order to solve the waste management problem, a deposit refund system is one option that has been proposed. This system was introduced in Hungary on January 1, 2024. In order to improve this system, our study aimed to collect good practices from countries that have been using DRS for a long time. To this, we conducted a comparative analysis of the six countries (Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany) that have been using the system the longest. We examined plastic waste and its recycling rate, recycling and return rates, the number of return points per capita, the relationship between average wages and deposit fees, and the types of systems. Finally, we compiled a list of best practices and highlighted those that we believe could be used to improve the Hungarian system. This includes the convenient location and smooth operation of vending machines, communication with consumers, the involvement of multiple actors, and the use of mobile collection points.