The calm before the storm?
The first returnable plastic, aluminium and glass drink containers have appeared on stores shelves, as the deposit return scheme (DRS) has been launched in Hungary. 3,000 Re-Pont reverse vending machines are switched on and waiting to be used by shoppers.
What happened next is just what we expected: manufacturers are taking advantage of the six-month grace period and – with a few exceptions – are starting to repackage products only at the last minute. Rationality has prevailed over sustainability goals. Retailers are trying to stock up on products in packaging without a return fee, hoping that price-sensitive consumers will go to the shops where drinks are cheaper during the transitional period.
Meanwhile hard work is being done in the background: recruiting voluntary and manual return points (concession company MOHU also has to provide return service in smaller municipalities), product registrations, software development – not only at MOHU but also at retailers on the checkout software, etc. We expect a mass packaging changeover and a load test of the whole system in the third quarter of the year. The aim is noble: to achieve 90% beverage packaging recovery, as has already been done in other countries. Go MOHU and I wish perseverance and patience to the return points! //
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