In the Czech Republic, recycling aluminium cans will soon become easier. Starting next year, cans can be disposed of in yellow bins for plastic waste, according to the Association for Waste Management. This initiative aims to simplify and enhance waste separation across the country.
The association is currently negotiating with local authorities and recycling companies to implement this system. Joint collection of metals and plastics is already in practice in some municipalities, and plans are underway to provide up to half a million containers nationwide for this purpose.
“People already sort eight out of ten PET bottles. There’s no reason why this shouldn’t also work for cans and other metal packaging,” said Petr Havelka, Managing Director of the Czech Waste Management Association, in an interview with the news channel ČT24.
Olga Dočkalová, representing the Association of Towns and Municipalities, supports the initiative. “There are far more yellow containers than the grey ones currently used for metals. Joint collection is therefore more practical,” she explained.
While the Ministry of the Environment backs the measure, it acknowledges technological hurdles. Currently, only three modern facilities in the Czech Republic can efficiently sort such waste. “Most of the 140 existing sorting plants operate manually, which limits efficiency,” said Environment Minister Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL).
Hladík considers a deposit system for PET bottles and cans as a long-term solution. The government has already approved a draft law, which is scheduled for debate in the Chamber of Deputies in January.
