How the change works
- 01 / Public decision
Refundable deposit
- 02 / Physical change
Affordable return
- 03 / Possible outcome
Containers collected separately
A refundable deposit gives the empty container a value and organizes its return through accessible collection points.
Research and local documents ↓What the evidence tells us
The Lithuanian system for single-use packaging, launched in 2016, combines initial payment, return and dedicated logistics.
Putting the choices into practice
Incentive
The challengeEmpty without refund
The responseDeposit refunded
Access
The challengeInconvenient collection
The responseConvenient return points
Destination
The challengeCollection mistaken for reuse
The responseMeasured recycling and reuse
The diagram compares choices and conditions for putting them into practice. Measured outcomes and their limits are discussed in the evidence.
Research and local documents ↓Conditions and limits
The return rate is not the reuse rate. To know the benefit, you also need the quality of the material and the destination after harvest.
Other possible benefits
Less packaging dispersion and traceable materials.
Research and local documents
- Local document and reported findingInterreg Europe · Lithuanian deposit system ↗
Lithuanian system sheet: deposit, return and organization of the service.
- Local project or policy documentUSAD · Lithuanian Security Deposit System ↗
Manager presentation on the operation and performance of the system.
