On December 16, LR Seimas will return for the fourth time to the proposal to expand the deposit system for glass containers to include the collection of containers of strong alcoholic beverages. Experts warn that such a move will destroy two well-functioning systems - deposit and waste sorting - and turn consumers who are happy with the current sorting system into "garbage collectors".
Users are satisfied with the current sorting system
According to Karolis Šiaudkulis, the director of packaging waste management VšĮ "Gamtos ateitis", one of the most important arguments against changing the deposit system is consumer satisfaction with the current sorting system.
"At the beginning of this year, we conducted a survey of public opinion, asking residents how satisfied they are with the sorting system. Almost two-thirds of the respondents said that they believe that the packaging waste sorting system in their settlement is convenient and properly organized. Furthermore, it is clear from the survey results that non-sorters - that is, those who do not use it - are dissatisfied with the sorting system. Meanwhile, even 92 percent residents who always and often sort think that the sorting system is organized", comments K. Šiaudkulis.
Almost 95 percent the country's population is already being sorted
As the director of VšĮ "Gamtos ateitis" says, before making such changes, we must take into account the growing number of sorting residents - people are interested in sorting, and take it responsibly at home and in the workplace.
"Almost all - as much as 95 percent - of the survey participants answered that they sort waste, and half of the respondents said that they always sort waste. People are most motivated to sort by the desire to contribute to the preservation of the environment and the prevention of climate change, their third motive is a convenient sorting system. Therefore, the education of the population and the training of waste handlers, which required time and effort, yield obvious results. The initiated system changes would wipe out everything we have created so far with a light hand," comments K. Šiaudkulis.
Currently, 400 are operating in Lithuania. containers, in which 8 million were invested. euros. More than one municipality in the country has invested in new, more capacious and more convenient containers, which residents have learned to use on a daily basis.
After the changes are implemented, residents' homes will turn into waste sorting warehouses
Preparations are underway to remove a third of all packages that would be collected through the deposit system from the container system. This means that residents will have to store glass containers at home until they can take them to the taromats on their own.
"When you ask people, how would you like it if you had to sort all the heavy glass containers at home, find a place for them, then load them into the car and take them to the taromats, they shudder at the thought. Taromats with plastic containers are convenient, but for many this experience is not pleasant due to the smell of used containers, although the taromats themselves are cleaned and maintained", says Rūta Vainienė, economist, director of the Association of Lithuanian Trade Companies.
A smooth running system cannot be overloaded with new features without consequences
According to R. Vainienė, the public is being misled by claiming that changes in the bail system would be very insignificant. The current taromats are not suitable for the development that is being initiated, so the entire infrastructure of the collateral system created so far would have to be changed.
"The argument is that expanding the deposit system to collect new packaging will only introduce 'somewhat' of innovation to an already well-functioning mechanism. But what is being forgotten is that that "little bit" is a mega-scale transformation for importers, manufacturers and waste handlers: everything that works well in the system now will need to be redone. Especially since the entire chain - from the manufacturer to the waste manager - is currently adapted to the already functioning system", says Rūta Vainienė, economist, director of the Association of Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce.
According to R. Vainienė, changes are planned when the deposit system functions perfectly, is neither compromised nor worn out. A study commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Lithuania showed that the development of the deposit system would cost 120 million. euros.
"It is not the case that a smooth and almost exemplary system can be loaded with new functions without consequences for the participants and users of the system. Changes initiated by the Seimas can be made not every five years, but every 20 years", explains R. Vainienė.
Such a deposit system, which collects plastic and glass containers, is implemented on a European scale only in Finland. Here, all glass packaging is collected only through taromats, and the Finns who created such a system, based on their experience, do not recommend installing it.
