The Czech government has approved an amendment to the packaging law, introducing a deposit system for PET bottles and metal cans. A deposit of four crowns is currently proposed, but the exact amount will be determined later by regulation. The draft law will now be presented to parliament for discussion and, if passed, is set to come into effect from 2026.
The main goal of the new regulation is to increase the recycling rate and reduce litter in nature. Additionally, the draft includes provisions for advertising leaflets, with producers required to pay a recycling fee. The unsolicited distribution of leaflets to people who are not interested will also be restricted.
While the general provisions of the law will take effect on January 1, 2025, the deposit system, according to reports from the news channel ČT24, is scheduled to start a year later. An EU directive requires that by 2029, at least 90 percent of sold plastic beverage bottles be returned. Currently, the Czech Republic is still below this target.
The deposit system will be implemented nationwide at over 11,000 locations, including shops larger than 50 square metres and petrol stations. Online retailers will also be required to accept returned deposit packaging. In smaller communities without return points, an operator will provide the system.
The deposit will apply to non-alcoholic drinks in plastic bottles ranging from 0.1 to 3 litres, as well as alcoholic beverages up to 15 per cent alcohol. Cans for non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks up to 1 litre will also be included in the deposit system. However, packaging for dairy products, oils, and vinegar will be exempt. According to estimates by the Ministry of the Environment, approximately 2.5 billion PET bottles and cans could be recycled annually.
The Ministry emphasises in a press release that the deposit system will improve the quality of recycling and enable the reuse of materials. This will help avoid the so-called downcycling effect, where the quality of the material decreases with repeated recycling. The estimated cost of introducing the new deposit system is around 2.5 billion CZK.
Additionally, the law introduces a recycling fee for paper advertising leaflets, to be paid by distribution companies. This measure aims to relieve local waste management systems and reduce environmental pollution. Approximately four billion advertising leaflets are produced annually in the Czech Republic, amounting to around 20,000 tonnes of paper.
