Harassment is common amongst those who solicit pledges
In Hamburg, Germany, supermarkets and discount stores are under scrutiny for refusing to accept returnable bottles and cans marked with the Pfand (deposit) system, as required by law. The Pfand system, part of Germany’s national deposit law, applies to many single-use plastic bottles, glass bottles, and cans, with deposits typically ranging between €0.08 and €0.25 per container.
According to the law, supermarkets and discounters must have reverse vending machines or similar return systems to accept these containers and refund the deposit amount to consumers. The law also mandates that deposit containers purchased at any store must be refundable at any store that sells similar products.
Failure to comply, such as refusing to accept eligible containers or not refunding the deposit, can lead to administrative penalties including fines under German packaging and waste laws that enforce the Pfand system. However, no fines have been imposed so far in Hamburg, as they were considered "first offenses".
Reasons given by stores for refusing to accept bottles and cans include unreadable labels, defective machines, or allegedly full warehouses. Consumer protector Tristan Jorde has collected hundreds of complaints about this issue over the years. The Hamburg Consumer Advocate suspects that traders may be particularly rigorous towards people who look a bit poorer.
The consumer advocate has reported widespread annoyance due to this issue, particularly affecting bottle collectors. Netto has stated they have a strong interest in accepting as many bottles and cans as possible for recycling. Edeka, on the other hand, stated they voluntarily accept reusable bottles in many markets, though not obligated to do so.
Exceptions apply to businesses with less than 200 square meters of sales area: They only have to accept packaging of the brands they sell themselves. The Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart decided in 2023 that even dented cans must be accepted.
If the acceptance is still refused, a complaint can be filed with the Hamburg Consumer Center. The Consumer Center offers a pocket-sized card explaining the legal situation briefly and provides a sample complaint letter for the local waste authority. All packaging that a trader carries in their range must be accepted.
All three companies, Edeka, Rewe, and Netto, have responded to a request to comply with their legal acceptance obligations. The Hamburg Environmental Authority reported receiving eight complaints about refused bottle deposits last year, with most complaints coming from these three companies.
This issue has sparked a debate about the effective implementation of the deposit return system and the rights of consumers. The Hamburg Consumer Center encourages consumers to report any instances of refusal to accept bottles and cans for deposit return.
- Despite the Pfand system's requirement for home-and-garden stores to have return systems for deposit containers, Netto has expressed a strong interest in recycling bottles and cans, suggesting a shift in lifestyle focusing on environmental responsibility.
- The Hamburg Consumer Advocate, Tristan Jorde, has reported widespread dissatisfaction among general-news readers, particularly bottle collectors, due to stores refusing to accept returnable bottles and cans as required by law.
- In the realm of politics and public policy, discussions are emerging about the efficient execution of the deposit return system, with questions being raised about the rights and protections afforded to consumers in their shopping experiences.
