• Danish deposit and return system
• Legal framework
• Areas covered
• Facts and figures

Facts and figures - May 2009                                              

Market situation

• 446 million items of one-way packaging: The Danish deposit and return system ensures that consumers are refunded their deposits at more than 9,000 sales locations throughout Denmark. In 2008, Danish consumers returned around 446 million empty items of packaging on which deposits were payable: ca 57 million glass bottles, ca 99 million plastic bottles, and ca 290 million cans.
• 524 suppliers: More than 524 producers and importers are registered with Dansk Retursystem A/S. Together they have registered over 10,300 items of packaging and drink products on which deposits are payable.

Returns – options and systems

• Around 13,000 returns recipients: Nearly 13,000 shops, restaurants, cafes, institutions, offices and similar other outlets are registered with Dansk Retursystem A/S, which collects all their one-way packaging free of charge.
• 2,900 reverse vending machines: There are almost 2,900 reverse vending machines located in around 2,600 stores throughout Denmark.

Returns percentages, and deposits paid but not refunded

• Returns percentages: In 2007, the average returns percentage for one-way packaging in Denmark was 87%. The calculation for 2008 was 88%. The returns percentage for bottles returned in 2008 was 102%.
• Deposits paid but not refunded: Deposits that are not claimed by consumers are spent on improvements to the Danish deposit and return system, as well as on community projects. In 2008, Dansk Retursystem A/S spent DKK 3 million on such projects.

Environment

• Compactors: By the end of 2008, Dansk Retursystem A/S had installed a total of 1,450 compactors in Denmark’s largest grocery stores. Collectively, these compacted around 60% of all compactable one-way packaging in the stores sector. One reason why compactors are environmentally friendly is because compressed packaging requires less transportation.
• Recycling: After sorting, one-way packaging made of plastic, glass and metal is sent for further processing. The packaging is then recycled to make items such as new cans, bottles and garments. In 2008, Dansk Retursystem A/S expects to collect enough aluminium to produce around 255 million new cans.

Dansk Retursystem A/S

• Turnover: In 2008, Dansk Retursystem A/S had a turnover of DKK 842 million.
• DKK 345 million to stores: In the period from July 2000 to the end of December 2008, Dansk Retursystem A/S paid handling fees of DKK 345 million to stores.