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LIVING IN GERMANY

Pfand: How Germany plans to expand its bottle deposit scheme in 2024

From next year, a Pfand - or deposit - will be introduced to more products under plans to extend the deposit scheme. Here's what we know so far.

Deposit machines German supermarket
A customer returns bottles to a deposit machine in a German supermarket. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Monika Skolimowska

What’s happening?

Germany’s Flaschenpfand (bottle deposit, known as Pfand), is a hugely popular recycling initiative in Germany, which involves consumers paying around 25 cents extra on bottles which they can then return and receive a refund. Some other products – such as glass bottles – have a smaller deposit, but the system works in the same way.  

People often head to the supermarket with a bag – or even trolley – packed full of cans and bottles to recycle. They then receive a receipt which they can take to the cashier to get the money directly back, or off their next shopping bill. 

It’s been running for 20 years and is credited for keeping streets tidier and helping to boost recycling, something Germans take very seriously. 

READ ALSO: German word of the day – Pfand

What’s changing?

For several years, the deposit scheme only applied to mineral water, beer and soft drinks in cans and PET plastic bottles.

Since last year, however, a stricter regulation has been in effect. Customers now also have to pay a deposit on alcoholic mixed drinks, lemonades and fruit juices.

From next year, the deposit scheme will be extended even further.

In 2024, the new regulation will apply to almost all drinks from the refrigerated shelves. Customers will have to pay 25 cents more on milk, mixed milk beverages and drinkable milk products offered in one-way plastic beverage bottles.

If drinks are part of the scheme, they will carry the ‘Pfand’ logo. The aim is that supermarkets and discounters will stop selling drinks in non-returnable bottles or cans without a deposit.

“According to the German Packaging Act (VerpackG), these beverages become subject to the mandatory deposit and thus integrated into the DPG return and deposit system,” said the German Deposit System (DPG) in a statement.

Which drinks will be subject to a new deposit from 2024?

Primarily, this concerns drinking milk products (for example Müller milk), fresh milk and iced coffee-style drinks such as Starbucks DoubleShot or Nescafé Ready-To-Drink. If manufacturers and retailers sell these products in plastic bottles, they will cost 25 cents more from January 1st.

For example, if fresh milk costs €1.79 in December, you’ll have to pay €2.04 a month later. The 25 cents will then be refunded when the bottle is returned.

Some brands - such as Granini - are already adding the deposit label this year.

A juice bottle with the deposit label in 2021. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/Eckes-Granini Group GmbH | Eckes-Granini Group GmbH

However, it is still unclear how the deposit can be returned to people for these products. This is because there are often hygiene risks with dairy products. In addition to mould, unpleasant odours could also develop in the vending machines.

It is possible that customers will be asked to empty the packaging and rinse it with tap water before returning it. However, it is unclear whether all consumers would comply with this. 

What’s the reaction?

It’s mixed. Currently plastic milk containers are meant to be placed in the yellow plastics bin and picked up by local authorities, meaning they are also recycled outside of the deposit system. 

“Plastic milk bottles belong in the yellow bin and not in the return machines,” Eckhard Heuser, Chief Executive of the Dairy Industry Association, has said, reported Focus Online. 

The German Trade Association says that it is worried about leftover dairy residue affecting the recycling system if the items are mixed into the deposit machines. 

Why is the government doing this?

The changes by the Federal Ministry for the Environment are part of a larger package of measures from the European Union to prevent waste. In Germany, all of the changes are to take effect in several stages by 2030.

As well as the deposit on all beverage bottles and cans, measures also include a quota for reusable and disposable products in supermarkets.

“The one-way deposit system, which is implemented nationwide by DPG Deutsche Pfandsystem GmbH and its network of system participants and partners, is thus once again contributing to the Europe-wide objective of reusing valuable raw materials,” said the DPG. 

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INSIDE GERMANY

Inside Germany: ‘Ampel’ makeover and can Euro 2024 bring Germans together?

From how the Euros are providing a sense of relief in Germany amid heightened tensions to a traffic light transformation in Frankfurt and lucky chimney sweeps, here's what we've been talking about this week.

Inside Germany: 'Ampel' makeover and can Euro 2024 bring Germans together?

Inside Germany is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in Germany that you might not have heard about. It’s published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.

The Euros are bringing Germans together – but tension remains 

Whichever way you look at it, it’s been a turbulent few years. In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sparking forced migration, an energy crisis and fears over war spreading in Europe. 

In Germany, the cost of living crisis has been gripping residents for years, resulting in increased strike action and protests. Meanwhile, the economy has tanked, support for the coalition government is falling dramatically, division remains over war in the Middle East and the the far-right has climbed in the polls. At the recent European parliament elections, Alternative for Germany (AfD) took second position in the national vote. 

READ ALSO: What do Germany’s far-right gains in EU elections mean for foreigners?

With these unresolved issues, you might think that Germany would struggle to come together to organise the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament this summer.

But so far, Deutschland has been a fantastic host.

The scenes of fans from different countries gathering in German cities and mixing with locals have been joyous to see. 

Games and logistical matters are taking place without any major problems (at least most of the time).

Hammering Scotland 5-1 in the opening game may have brought Germans a much needed boost. Seeing residents from all walks of life huddle around TVs on streets or attend fan zones to cheer on their team has felt like something we’ve all needed after such heavy years. 

Perhaps if the German team goes far, it will unite people even more. 

But the tension is still around. 

A recent survey by broadcaster WDR’s Sport Inside, found that one in five respondents would prefer if the German national team had more “white” players, highlighting racist attitudes. 

It comes after German partygoers were filmed singing “foreigners out!” on the holiday island of Sylt. 

The Euros are providing much-needed light relief in Germany right now – but football won’t fix everything. 

Frankfurt Ampelmann gets makeover

Football figures on the traffic lights in Frankfurt to celebrate Euro 2024.

Football figures on the traffic lights in Frankfurt to celebrate Euro 2024. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Andreas Arnold

Football fever is gripping the nation – and Frankfurt has updated its traffic lights or Ampeln to to celebrate

Anyone walking through central Frankfurt might spot the Ampelmann (traffic light man) giving a red card or kicking the ball – depending on the colour. 

German cities are known for their unusual traffic light figures. 

The most famous are the Ampelmännchen (little traffic light men) in Berlin. These were first created in what was then East Berlin back in 1961 and now appear on various traffic lights in the centre of the German capital. 

Germany in Focus

In the latest episode of our Germany in Focus podcast, we talk about our highlights of Euro 2024 so far, why the German coalition is hanging by a thread, the postal system reform, how offices are preparing for the German citizenship law changes and the German vocabulary you need to watch football. 

Lucky chimney sweeps

My building recently received a visit from a lovely Schornsteinfeger (chimney sweep) to check our boilers were in working order. 

It reminded me that seeing a chimney sweep is meant to bring good luck in Germany. 

That’s because they traditionally came to homes to clean out chimneys, removing soot and dirt, which would help ward off the possibility of fires (as well as unwanted evil spirits). 

A chimney sweep on a roof on Maulbronn, Baden-Württemberg in 2023.

A chimney sweep on a roof on Maulbronn, Baden-Württemberg in 2023. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Bernd Weißbrod

They may not actually be going into chimneys and getting covered in soot these days but they’re still providing maintenance and checking on various heating systems which can only be a Glücksbringer (lucky charm).

You’re supposed to get even more luck if you touch a chimney sweep – for example by shaking their hand or twisting one of their silver buttons – but you should probably ask them first. 

If you see a Schornsteinfeger on New Year’s Day or on your wedding day it’s meant to be even luckier.

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