Pending determination on granting assistance by the Commission.
In Germany, the Pfand system, which requires stores that sell bottled beverages to accept the return of those bottles for recycling and refund the deposit, is a well-established practice. However, the system isn't without its challenges.
Retailers like Aldi, Lidl, and Co. are estimated to make a three-digit million profit from unreturned deposits each year, with every deposit container that is not returned becoming profit for them. Yet, it's important to note that under the Packaging Act (Verpackungsgesetz), these retailers have a legal obligation to accept your empty bottles and cans if you return them.
However, practical issues such as technical issues with reverse vending machines, limitations in space or storage, or operational constraints at certain locations can sometimes lead to temporary refusals or inconvenient access. Some stores might restrict acceptance times for bottle returns or direct customers to centralized collection points to optimize logistics and reduce operational burdens.
The Consumer Advice Center Hamburg suspects that many retailers are not pleased when deposit collectors submit many bottles, cans, and glasses. Deposit collectors, who often rely on refunds, can experience rejection, aggressive behavior, house bans, police interventions, or physical altercations. A common reason given for not accepting empty bottles is unreadable labels, which is usually not a legally valid reason.
The most common reasons given for not accepting empty bottles are unreadable labels (47%), defective deposit machines (23%), the drink not being part of the range (14%), or full storage (3%). These reasons are usually not legally valid for not accepting empty bottles.
The retailers most frequently named in deposit complaints are Edeka, Rewe, Netto, Kaufland, Penny, Aldi, Getränke Hoffmann, Norma, Lidl, and Hit. The Consumer Advice Center Hamburg emphasizes the need for legal regulation regarding the acceptance of multi-trip deposits, viewing the current situation as urgent.
It's important to note that it is irrelevant whether the bottles or cans are crushed, dirty, or not part of the range. The only condition for accepting empty bottles is that the deposit logo is visible and legible. Retailers like Aldi, Edeka, and Co. do not have a legal obligation to accept multi-trip deposits, and they typically accept multi-trip products only if they also sell them.
Customers are generally advised to return bottles during store hours when machines are maintained, or to use dedicated bottle return points if stores decline returns temporarily. The Consumer Advice Center Hamburg views the current situation as urgent, requiring legal regulation to ensure fair treatment for deposit collectors and compliance with the Packaging Act.
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- Despite making significant profits from unreturned deposits, retailers in Germany like Aldi, Lidl, and others have a legal obligation under the Packaging Act to accept customers' empty bottles and cans.
- General news reports have highlighted urgency in the need for legal regulation regarding the acceptance of multi-trip deposits, as the Consumer Advice Center Hamburg has named retailers such as Edeka, Rewe, Netto, Kaufland, Penny, Aldi, Getränke Hoffmann, Norma, Lidl, and Hit among those most frequently named in deposit complaints.
- In the realm of home-and-garden matters, customers can control their lifestyle and contribution to the environment by carefully checking the deposit logos on bottles and cans before discarding them, as retailers like Aldi, Edeka, and others typically accept multi-trip products only if they also sell them.
