For the first time in 25 years, the return has increased on bottles and boxes.From Monday, all machines and cash registers will be adjusted up to 2 kroner on bottles.
Today, 86% of bottles and boxes in Norway pay back money on return.
The aim of increasing the price is to get even more empty goods.
Infinitum, the company that operates the Norwegian ‘mortgage’ scheme,has estimated that an increase will yield a 90% return.
The increase means more millions of bottles back, less CO2 pollution and reduced siphoning into nature.
A transitional arrangement has been in place since the New Year, but from the 1st of September, the deadline will be set for all to convert to new packaging. Thus you get 2 kroner for all bottles, or 3 kroner if the bottle is over half a litre.
People who deliver bottles labeled with the old ‘mortgage’ will still get back what they state, i.e. 1 krone, and 2,50.
Drinking at home
Much today comes from soda and beers that are consumed in the home.
‘’Many young people drink energy drinks on the bus, for example, and reload or throw the bottle. We need to come up with information about the value and the environmental impact,” said Tor Guttulsrud, director of finance in the return company.
Several municipalities have also started with rings and holders on the trash cans where people can put bottles and boxes for those who want to redeem the return money.
‘’The discussion about an even higher mortgage to get even more empty goods has probably been settled for now.There is a balance between a too high mortgage and a correct mortgage. If it gets too high, our experience is that it may tempt cheating in different ways,’’ he explained.
Last change 25 years ago
It has been a long way to go before the bottleneck was reached that is now being set up.Already by 2013, an initiative was taken to increase the amount. Some of the reasons were that the mortgage rate was NOK 2.50 for large bottles, even though the 50 øre coin was out of use.
Nevertheless, the matter was before the government for a long time before the proposal was sent for consultation last summer.
Before the New Year, the Ministry of the Environment announced that the amount should be raised for the first time since 1993.
© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today
