| Name of Program |
The Law on Packaging and Packaging Waste |
| Date Implemented | Enacted 2014, Implemented 2016 |
| Containers Covered |
Containers of the following materials between 0.1L and 3L:
|
| Beverages Covered |
|
| Excluded Beverages |
|
| Fees and Taxes |
Producer fees (2020) [2]:
|
| Refundable Deposit |
€0.10 (USD$0.11) |
| Unclaimed deposits | Užstato sistemos administratorius (USAD) |
| Handling Fees |
Manual collection or RVM without compaction [3]:
RVM with compaction:
|
| Redemption System | Return-to-Retail: Containers can be returned for a refund of the deposit in all shops with an area of >300m2 (>60m2 in rural areas) |
| Program Success | 2019 Redemption Rate [4]: Total Return Rate: 92 % PET: 92 % Metal: 93 % One-way Glass: 85 % 2017 Redemption Rate: Total Return Rate: 91.9% Metal: 93% PET: 92% Glass: 83% |
Details
Lithuania implemented a container deposit scheme in February 2016, with Užstato Sistemos Administratorius (USAD) administering the scheme. USAD is a non-profit organizations comprised of three beverage industry stakeholders: the Lithuanian Association of Breweries, the Association of Lithuanian Trade Enterprises, and Lithuanian Natural Mineral Water Manufacturers’ Association. [5]
Consumers may return eligible containers through either reverse vending machines (RVMs) or through manual collection points. Manual collection points include nearly all stores which sold beverage containers, as part of the program's "return-to-retail" model. All stores were also provided with RVM points. As of November 2018, USAD reported they operated roughly 1,000 RVM points and over 1,700 manual collection points. [6] Most containers are reportedly collected at RVM points.
Lithuania's deposit scheme is widely lauded by its public and others. A consumer survey in 2018 reported that 97% of consumers were satisfied with the functioning of the deposit system, and believed the deposit system was necessary. In the same year, they already reached their targeted goals for 2025. [7] This contrasts with the collection rate of plastic waste in 2015, prior to the system's implementation, which was only 55%.
Footnotes
[1] "About the system." Užstato sistemos administratorius. Last accessed 9 March 2021.
[2] "Global Deposit Book 2020: An Overview of Deposit Systems for One-Way Beverage Containers." Reloop Inc. 15 December 2020.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] "About USAD." Užstato sistemos administratorius. Last accessed 9 March 2021.
[6] "Lithuanian Deposit System – Environmental Champion in Eastern Europe." Užstato sistemos administratorius. Originally presented at the 1st European Conference on Deposit Return Systems, November 2018.
[7] Ibid.
Last Updated on 9 March 2021.