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International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Thursday, 28.03.2024, 14:05

Estonia seeking to create common packaging deposit system with Latvia

BC, Tallinn, 09.08.2018.Print version
Estonian Environment Minister Siim Kiisler is to propose setting up a common packaging deposit system in Estonia and Latvia, which would enable returning beverage packaging bought in Latvia for a reimbursement in Estonia and vice versa, reported LETA/BNS.

"The trade of beverages between Estonia and Latvia doesn't seem to slow down, rather the opposite. Beverage packaging without the possibility of returning is piling up and it has a paralyzing effect on our presently well-working packaging system and recycling in general," Kiisler said commenting on the proposal to be made to the Estonia-Latvia government committee. "As the packaging system in Latvia is at present being planned, it is a good time to create a common system," he added.


Estonia launched its deposit-subjected beverage packaging system in 2005. Mainly plastic, aluminum and glass beverage packaging is collected.


Last year around 291 mln deposit-subjected beverage packagings were released to the Estonian market, which is 6% less than in 2016. At the same time, 231 mln beverage packagings were collected in Estonia, which is also 6% less than the year before.


Kiisler added that a common packaging system with Latvia would be a pioneer project in the European Union on how countries can cooperate in this field.


In the EU the system of deposit-subjected beverage packaging is being used in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Lithuania and Croatia. Also, Iceland and Norway are using a deposit system. The same system is planned to be introduced in Latvia, Malta, the UK and France.






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