For rigid plastic packaging that is sorted and recycled without impediments, and with a positive market value in 2019, a lower rate of € 0.38 per kg applies. This modulated fee is intended to reward companies that use well-recyclable rigid plastic packaging with a positive market value after sorting, leading to lower net costs for Afvalfonds Verpakkingen (‘Packaging Waste Fund’).
The fees are re-established annually and the relative discount compared to the regular plastic rate will be maintained for a multiannual basis.
To determine if a plastic packaging is easily recyclable or not, Afvalfonds Verpakkingen uses the recycle check for rigid plastic packaging, which has been developed by Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (Kennisinstiuut Duurzaam Verpakken, KIDV). The KIDV Recycle Check can be downloaded here. Find more information about the Recyclecheck here.
Afvalfonds Verpakkingen chooses to reward the use of highly recyclable packaging and not to sanction the use of other packaging. All plastic packaging that isn’t easily recyclable within the current systems of collection, sorting and recycling existing in the Netherlands nor generate a positive market value, are not qualified for the lower rate as yet. This could change in the future for example by innovations in sorting and recycling.