{"id":849,"date":"2017-05-21T17:34:20","date_gmt":"2017-05-21T14:34:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/?p=849"},"modified":"2021-02-11T22:21:09","modified_gmt":"2021-02-11T20:21:09","slug":"how-does-the-german-pfand-system-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/how-does-the-german-pfand-system-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does The German Pfand System Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.0.6&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|10vw||10vw|false|true&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|5vw||5vw|false|true&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;|1vw||1vw|false|true&#8221; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.0.7&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.0.7&#8243;][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;OTTANOVA&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.4.2&#8243; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221;]<a href=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/cread.php?s=2479501&#038;v=15971&#038;q=372762&#038;r=634404\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/56162a32f33f01f4c872c5bcf522fe17.png\" border=\"0\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/a>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;3.26.3&#8243; width=&#8221;100%&#8221; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.47&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.8.2&#8243; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>You might have heard about Germany&#8217;s unique approach to recycling, colloquially known as the Pfandsystem.<\/p>\n<p>But what is it? How exactly does it work? And is it proving effective?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What is the German Pfand System?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Introduced in 2003, the &#8220;Pfand&#8221; recycling system encourages drinks companies to use refillable bottles, and encourages consumers to return their bottles to recycling centres.<\/p>\n<p>The objective was to create a responsible policy for the sale and return of disposable packaging. The process of washing and sterilising existing bottles is overwhelmingly more environmentally friendly than the production of new, single-use bottles.<\/p>\n<p>Washing and re-using bottles not only reduces waste, but also cuts the CO2 emissions created by manufacturing bottles.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;3.26.3&#8243; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.47&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;What deposits for which bottles?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.8.2&#8243; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>How does the German Pfand system work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Essentially, it works as bottle refund a cycle:<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturers sell their bottled product to retailers. The retailers pay a deposit to the manufacturer. This deposit &#8211; or Pfand &#8211; is passed on to the customer, and then refunded when they use a bottle return machine at a supermarket or recycling centre.<\/p>\n<p>This way, everyone is incentivised to keep the refillable bottles in circulation, and out of the landfill.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.0.6&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#2e2e2e&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;25px||||false|false&#8221; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; border_radii=&#8221;on|10px|10px|10px|10px&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset2&#8243; box_shadow_horizontal=&#8221;12px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical=&#8221;12px&#8221; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;10px&#8221; box_shadow_spread=&#8221;2px&#8221; box_shadow_color=&#8221;rgba(0,0,0,0.5)&#8221; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;3.27.4&#8243; text_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;15px|20px|15px|20px|false|false&#8221; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">MULTI USE BOTTLES<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Glass beer bottles<\/strong> of <strong>0.33 or 0.5 litre<\/strong> of have a <strong>deposit of \u20ac0.08<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Glass water bottles<\/strong> of 0.75 or 1 litre have a <strong>deposit of \u20ac0.15<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Plastic multi-use bottles<\/strong> in all shapes have a <strong>deposit of \u20ac0.15<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Standard beer crates<\/strong> have a <strong>deposit of \u20ac3.10<\/strong> (if you return them with all 20 empties)<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;3.27.4&#8243; text_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;15px|20px|15px|20px|false|false&#8221; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">SINGLE USE BOTTLES &amp; CANS<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<strong><\/p>\n<p>Single-use bottles<\/strong>, or\u00a0<em>Einwegflaschen<\/em>, carry a <strong>deposit of \u20ac0.25<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Common examples are your cheap 6-pack of 1.5 litre mineral water bottles from your local supermarket. In many discount supermarkets, Coca Cola and Pepsi sell their products in 0.5 litre or 1.25 litre bottles which are single-use.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Drinks cans<\/strong> also carry a <strong>\u20ac0.25 deposit<\/strong> and are treated in the same way i.e. as single-use products.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.0.6&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;35px||35px||false|false&#8221; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.0.47&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Is there a deposit on everything?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.8.2&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=&#8221;1px&#8221; box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; box_shadow_blur_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_spread_tablet=&#8221;0px&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>So far, so good, right? The Pfand laws are simple, and obviously the right thing to do.<\/p>\n<p>Well, unfortunately it\u2019s not quite so straightforward\u2026<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Flaws in the Pfand system<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There are some weird inconsistencies in the German Pfand system.<\/p>\n<p>For one, not all drinks are created equal:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Juice, milk, wine and spirits sold in glass or plastic bottles are not subjected to legally enforceable deposits.<\/li>\n<li>Paper-based drinks cartons are excluded from the law too, even though they&#8217;re usually coated in plastic. There&#8217;s no enforceable deposit on glass or plastic bottled food products (like sauces and condiments) either.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There&#8217;s also an issue with declining interest in the system from both consumers and manufacturers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to a recent Spiegel article, at the time the law came into force, 64% of all bottles purchased were refilled. At the end of 2012, this had reduced to 46%, with the trend heading downwards.<\/p>\n<p>By early 2015, Coca Cola announced that it would over time phase out multi-use bottles in favour of one-time use, citing the high logistics costs of collecting the multi-use bottles and holding free storage space for them.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.0.7&#8243; background_enable_color=&#8221;off&#8221; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||50px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; z_index_tablet=&#8221;500&#8243; border_width_all=&#8221;1px&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset2&#8243; box_shadow_horizontal=&#8221;10px&#8221; box_shadow_vertical=&#8221;10px&#8221; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;12px&#8221; box_shadow_spread=&#8221;1px&#8221; box_shadow_color=&#8221;rgba(0,0,0,0.55)&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;DKB&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.6.0&#8243;]<!-- Beginn https:\/\/www.financeads.net\/-Code --><a href=\"https:\/\/www.financeads.net\/tc.php?t=31942C10310380B\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/d00fea1ef66e7f1fbc6bb1acc7c835e6-1.gif\" alt=\"DKB-Cash: Goodbye Kontof\u00fchrungsgeb\u00fchr\" border=\"0\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\"><\/a><!-- Ende https:\/\/www.financeads.net\/-Code \u2014>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"3.26.3\" custom_margin=\"||40px||false|false\" z_index_tablet=\"500\" box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=\"0px\" box_shadow_vertical_tablet=\"0px\" box_shadow_blur_tablet=\"40px\" box_shadow_spread_tablet=\"0px\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"3.0.47\" custom_padding=\"|||\" custom_padding__hover=\"|||\"][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Why do some places refuse to accept my empties?\" _builder_version=\"4.5.7\" z_index_tablet=\"500\" text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=\"0px\" box_shadow_vertical_tablet=\"0px\" box_shadow_blur_tablet=\"40px\" box_shadow_spread_tablet=\"0px\"]\n\n<h3><strong>Why do some places refuse to accept my empties?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A store's obligation to accept empties depends on<\/strong> what type of empties they are. Or specifically, <strong>whether they are single-use or multi-use bottles<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Single-use bottles<\/strong> are regulated by law and everybody who sells them must accept the return of empties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Go to your local supermarket and you'll find that the automated machines which accept the returned bottles will take 99% of what you throw in there, provided it's a bottle that belongs to the German Pfand system and has a readable\u00a0barcode to that effect on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Exceptions could be imported drinks bottles purchased in a Turkish (or any other specialist foreign foods) supermarket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Multi-use bottles<\/strong>, or\u00a0<em>Mehrwegflaschen\u00a0<\/em>are different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>There's no obligation for <a href=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/grocery-shopping-in-germany\/\">supermarkets<\/a> to accept these bottles. In fact, anything other than returning the empties to the place where you purchased them from, with a valid receipt, is based on goodwill from the party you are returning them to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>However, in reality, most major <em>Getr\u00e4nkemarkt\u00a0<\/em>chains will accept more or less anything back because they are big enough and have relationships with pretty much all drinks producers nationwide, even if not locally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>There are one or two exceptions: They will not accept foreign bottles or crates, even if the shape and form is identical to those you bought in Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Case in point, I bought 3 crates of beer back from Czechia and had the crates stuck in my cellar for months because nobody would take them as returns. Certain types of promo non-standard sized bottles may also cause you issues.<\/p>\n\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"3.26.3\" background_size=\"initial\" background_position=\"top_left\" background_repeat=\"repeat\" custom_margin=\"40px||||false|false\" custom_padding=\"0px||||false|false\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"3.0.47\" custom_padding=\"|||\" custom_padding__hover=\"|||\"][et_pb_text admin_label=\"What have been the consequences?\" _builder_version=\"4.8.2\" hover_enabled=\"0\" z_index_tablet=\"500\" text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=\"0px\" header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=\"1px\" box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=\"0px\" box_shadow_vertical_tablet=\"0px\" box_shadow_blur_tablet=\"40px\" box_shadow_spread_tablet=\"0px\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]\n\n<h3><strong>Is the Pfand system effective?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>In a nutshell, the law does not tip the scales enough in favour of incentivising the use of multi-use bottles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>If you can return <i>Einwegflaschen <\/i>anywhere, but you have to think and plan where you take your <i>Mehrwegs <\/i>back to, is it really a surprise that consumers are turning their back on the environmentally friendly option?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>The price difference of 10 cents between single and multi-use bottles is peanuts, and does not incentivise\u00a0the consumer into doing what is right for the environment in terms of his shopping habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, the <em>Pfand\u00a0<\/em>law has\u00a0generated a very lucrative business for retailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>How? Every time you buy a bottle of water in a single-use bottle and throw the bottle away, the seller has made an additional 25 cents profit from you. The likelihood of that bottle making its way back to that specific retailer is slim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>One conseqeuence of the law is that smaller, regional producers, for example of water and fizzy soft drinks, are inherently disadvantaged because they have remained on the path of supplying in mutli-use bottles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p>They don't have multi-million Euro contracts with Aldi and Lidl that the likes of Coca Cola and Pepsi do, and rely heavily on the <i>Getr\u00e4nkemarkt <\/i>wholesalers for their business, most of whom deal in multi-use bottled product.<\/p>\n\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.5.7\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_color=\"#f8f8f8\" width=\"80%\" width_tablet=\"75%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" module_alignment=\"center\" custom_margin=\"2vw||2vw||false|false\" border_radii=\"on|15px|15px|15px|15px\" border_width_all=\"1px\" global_module=\"47539\" saved_tabs=\"all\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.5.7\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"|auto|0px|auto|false|false\" custom_padding=\"1vw||0vw||false|false\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.5.7\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.5.7\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_margin=\"0px||0px||false|false\" custom_padding=\"1vw||1vw||true|false\"]\n\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">Looking for helpful content on another topic?<\/h4>\n\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_3,1_3,1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.5.7\" width=\"100%\" custom_margin=\"1vw||2vw||false|false\" custom_padding=\"0px|50px|0px|50px|false|false\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"3.26.3\" custom_padding=\"|15px||15px|false|false\"][et_pb_blurb title=\"FINDING A JOB\" url=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/finding-a-job\/\" image=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/finding-a-job-1.png\" alt=\"finding a job in germany\" image_max_width=\"50%\" image_max_width_tablet=\"50%\" image_max_width_phone=\"60%\" image_max_width_last_edited=\"on|phone\" admin_label=\"Finding a Job\" _builder_version=\"4.5.7\" header_font_size=\"16px\" background_enable_color=\"off\" text_orientation=\"center\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" module_alignment=\"center\" custom_margin=\"|10px||10px|false|true\" custom_margin_tablet=\"||5vw||false|true\" custom_margin_phone=\"|10px|7vw|10px|false|true\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"5px|10px|5px|10px|true|true\" link_option_url=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/finding-a-job\/\" z_index_tablet=\"500\" border_radii=\"on|10px|10px|10px|10px\" border_width_all=\"1px\" border_color_all=\"#4d4d4d\" background_color__hover=\"rgba(251,219,71,0.5)\" background_enable_color__hover=\"on\" background__hover_enabled=\"on|hover\"][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"3.26.3\" custom_padding=\"|15px||15px|false|false\"][et_pb_blurb title=\"RESIDENCE PERMITS\" url=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/visas-residence-permits\/\" image=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/visas-and-residence-permits.png\" alt=\"visas and residence permits\" image_max_width=\"50%\" image_max_width_tablet=\"50%\" image_max_width_phone=\"60%\" image_max_width_last_edited=\"on|phone\" admin_label=\"Visas\" _builder_version=\"4.5.7\" header_font_size=\"16px\" background_enable_color=\"off\" text_orientation=\"center\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" module_alignment=\"center\" custom_margin=\"|10px||10px|false|true\" custom_margin_tablet=\"||5vw||false|true\" custom_margin_phone=\"|10px|7vw|10px|false|true\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"5px|10px|5px|10px|true|true\" link_option_url=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/visas-residence-permits\/\" z_index_tablet=\"500\" border_radii=\"on|10px|10px|10px|10px\" border_width_all=\"1px\" border_color_all=\"#4d4d4d\" background_enable_color__hover=\"on\" background__hover_enabled=\"on|hover\" background_color__hover=\"rgba(251,219,71,0.5)\"][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"3.26.3\" custom_padding=\"|15px||15px|false|false\"][et_pb_blurb title=\"%22HOW TO%22 GUIDES\" url=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/how-to-guides\/\" image=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/how-to-articles.png\" alt=\"how to articles\" image_max_width=\"50%\" image_max_width_tablet=\"50%\" image_max_width_phone=\"60%\" image_max_width_last_edited=\"on|phone\" admin_label=\"How to Articles\" _builder_version=\"4.5.7\" header_font_size=\"16px\" background_enable_color=\"off\" text_orientation=\"center\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" module_alignment=\"center\" custom_margin=\"|10px||10px|false|true\" custom_margin_tablet=\"||5vw||false|true\" custom_margin_phone=\"|10px|7vw|10px|false|true\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"5px|10px|5px|10px|true|true\" link_option_url=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/how-to-guides\/\" z_index_tablet=\"500\" border_radii=\"on|10px|10px|10px|10px\" border_width_all=\"1px\" border_color_all=\"#4d4d4d\" background_enable_color__hover=\"on\" background__hover_enabled=\"on|hover\" background_color__hover=\"rgba(251,219,71,0.5)\"][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_3,1_3,1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.5.7\" width=\"100%\" custom_margin=\"0vw|auto|0vw|auto|true|false\" custom_padding=\"0px|50px|2vw|50px|false|false\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"3.26.3\" custom_padding=\"|15px||15px|false|false\"][et_pb_blurb title=\"LIFE IN GERMANY\" url=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/life-in-germany\/\" image=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/life-in-germany.png\" alt=\"life in germany\" image_max_width=\"50%\" image_max_width_tablet=\"50%\" image_max_width_phone=\"60%\" image_max_width_last_edited=\"on|phone\" admin_label=\"Life in Germany\" _builder_version=\"4.5.7\" header_font_size=\"16px\" background_enable_color=\"off\" text_orientation=\"center\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" module_alignment=\"center\" custom_margin=\"|10px||10px|false|true\" custom_margin_tablet=\"||5vw||false|true\" custom_margin_phone=\"|10px|7vw|10px|false|true\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"5px|10px|5px|10px|true|true\" link_option_url=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/life-in-germany\/\" z_index_tablet=\"500\" border_radii=\"on|10px|10px|10px|10px\" border_width_all=\"1px\" border_color_all=\"#4d4d4d\" background_enable_color__hover=\"on\" background__hover_enabled=\"on|hover\" background_color__hover=\"rgba(251,219,71,0.5)\"][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"3.26.3\" custom_padding=\"|15px||15px|false|false\"][et_pb_blurb title=\"HEALTHCARE\" url=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/healthcare\/\" image=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/healthcare.png\" alt=\"health insurance in Germany\" image_max_width=\"50%\" image_max_width_tablet=\"50%\" image_max_width_phone=\"60%\" image_max_width_last_edited=\"on|phone\" admin_label=\"Healthcare\" _builder_version=\"4.5.7\" header_font_size=\"16px\" background_enable_color=\"off\" text_orientation=\"center\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" module_alignment=\"center\" custom_margin=\"|10px||10px|false|true\" custom_margin_tablet=\"||5vw||false|true\" custom_margin_phone=\"|10px|7vw|10px|false|true\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"5px|10px|5px|10px|true|true\" link_option_url=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/healthcare\/\" z_index_tablet=\"500\" border_radii=\"on|10px|10px|10px|10px\" border_width_all=\"1px\" border_color_all=\"#4d4d4d\" background_enable_color__hover=\"on\" background__hover_enabled=\"on|hover\" background_color__hover=\"rgba(251,219,71,0.5)\"][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"3.26.3\" custom_padding=\"|15px||15px|false|false\"][et_pb_blurb title=\"HOUSING\" url=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/housing\/\" image=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/housing.png\" alt=\"apartments in Germany\" image_max_width=\"50%\" image_max_width_tablet=\"50%\" image_max_width_phone=\"60%\" image_max_width_last_edited=\"on|phone\" admin_label=\"Housing\" _builder_version=\"4.5.7\" header_font_size=\"16px\" background_enable_color=\"off\" text_orientation=\"center\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" module_alignment=\"center\" custom_margin=\"|10px||10px|false|true\" custom_margin_tablet=\"||5vw||false|true\" custom_margin_phone=\"|10px|7vw|10px|false|true\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"5px|10px|5px|10px|true|true\" link_option_url=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/housing\/\" z_index_tablet=\"500\" border_radii=\"on|10px|10px|10px|10px\" border_width_all=\"1px\" border_color_all=\"#4d4d4d\" background_enable_color__hover=\"on\" background__hover_enabled=\"on|hover\" background_color__hover=\"rgba(251,219,71,0.5)\"][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You might have heard about Germany&#8217;s unique approach to recycling, colloquially known as the Pfandsystem. But what is it? How exactly does it work? And is it proving effective? &nbsp; What is the German Pfand System? &nbsp; Introduced in 2003, the &#8220;Pfand&#8221; recycling system encourages drinks companies to use refillable bottles, and encourages consumers to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":47945,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\u00a0\r\n<h2><strong>How Does The German Pfand System Work, And Is It Effective?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nThe current recycling laws, colloquially known as the <em>Pfandsystem<\/em>, came into force in 2003\u00a0and were modified again 3 years later. They regulate the sale and return of plastic and glass bottles, as well as aluminium cans.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n<em>Before you read the article, a quick call-to-action! Please subscribe to us on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCQXl8R0OW2H9hC_mKMm39MQ\"><strong>YouTube<\/strong><\/a> if you would like to see new videos when we upload them. We will add new content each week. Thanks! :-)<\/em>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n<h3><strong>What is the objective?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nThe <strong>German\u00a0<em>Pfand<\/em> system<\/strong>\u00a0was brought into force to ensure that there was a responsible policy in place for the recycling of plastic bottles. It came into being to encourage drinks companies to\u00a0supply their product in\u00a0multi-use, refillable plastic or glass bottles. These\u00a0can be refilled up to 25 times for the plastic variety and up to 50 times for glass. In doing so, this reduces the average CO2 emissions per bottle in circulation because fewer new bottles have to be manufactured. The process of washing and sterilising existing bottles is overwhelmingly more environmentally friendly in terms of CO2 output than the production of new, single-use bottles.\r\n\r\nAccording to a recent <a href=\"http:\/\/www.spiegel.de\/wirtschaft\/service\/mehrwegflaschen-einwegflaschen-im-pfandflaschen-wirrwarr-a-1031491.html\">Spiegel<\/a> article, at the time the law came into force, 64% of all bottles purchased were refilled i.e. were multi-use bottles. At the end of 2012, this had reduced to 46%, with the trend heading downwards. In early\u00a02015, Coca Cola announced that it would over time phase out multi-use bottles in favour of one-time use, citing the high logistics costs of collecting the multi-use bottles and holding free storage space for them.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_861\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"639\"]<a href=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_1115.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-861\" src=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_1115.jpg\" alt=\"german pfand system\" width=\"639\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a> Beer crates usually come in 20 x 0.5l or 24 x 0.33l, like the one pictured. These bottles also have the flip-top \"B\u00fcgel\" which carries a higher\u00a0<em>Pfand<\/em>.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n<h3><strong>How does it work?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nEssentially, the German Pfand system is a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mdr.de\/mdr-thueringen\/redakteur-168.html\">cycle<\/a>. The drinks manufacturer fills his product, for example, beer or water, into these bottles. These bottles are sold to wholesalers or retailers. The wholesaler or retailer pays a deposit to the producer. This deposit is then passed on directly to the customer in the form of a surcharge. In the case of wholesalers, there is an extra step in the chain as he passes this on to individual retailers such as your local kiosk. As end customers, we then pay this deposit, or\u00a0<em>Pfand<\/em>, to the supermarket, kiosk,\u00a0<em>Getr\u00e4nkemarkt<\/em> or whoever and we get it back when we return the bottles.\r\n\r\nGlass beer bottles of 0.33 or 0.5 litre of have a deposit of 8 cents.\r\n\r\nGlass water bottles of 0.75 or 1 litre have a deposit of 15 cents.\r\n\r\nPlastic multi-use bottles in all shapes have a deposit of 15 cents.\r\n\r\nStandard beer crates have a deposit of \u20ac3.10 (if you return them with all 20 empties)\r\n\r\n[clickToTweet tweet=\"So the Pfand laws are simple, right? And obviously the right thing to do? Well, not quite.\" quote=\"So the Pfand laws are simple, right? And obviously the right thing to do? Well, not quite.\" theme=\"style4\"]\r\n\r\nThere are also single-use bottles, or\u00a0<em>Einwegflaschen<\/em> as they are known in German. These you probably know best as your cheap 6-pack of 1.5 litre mineral water bottles from your local supermarket. Other examples are also common though. In many discounters, Coca Cola and Pepsi sell their products in 0.5 litre or 1.25 litre bottles which are single-use.\r\n\r\nSingle-use bottles by law carry a higher deposit, meaning that a 25 cent deposit is levied on the sale of these bottles. The logic for this is that the higher deposit should act as a disincentive. Drinks cans also carry a 25 cent deposit too and are treated in the same way i.e. as single-use products.\r\n\r\nSo far, so good. But here is\u00a0where they made a real dog's dinner of the German <em>Pfand<\/em> system legislation.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_862\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"644\"]<a href=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_1116.jpg\"><img class=\" wp-image-862\" src=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_1116.jpg\" alt=\"german pfand system\" width=\"644\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a> Water comes in crates of 12. Glass bottles usually 0.75l, whereas plastic (as pictured) are 1.0l[\/caption]\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n<h3><strong>Why do some places refuse to accept my empties?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nYou see, a store's obligation to accept empties depends on what type of empties they are. Or specifically, whether they are single-use or multi-use bottles.\r\n\r\nSingle-use bottles are regulated by law and everybody who sells them must accept the return of empties. Go to your local supermarket and you'll find that the automated machines which accept the returned bottles will take 99% of what you throw in there, provided it's a bottle with a valid German Pfand label and barcode on it.\r\n\r\nExceptions could be bottles (or cans) which you may have purchased in a Turkish (or any other specialist foreign foods) supermarket, as some of their product is imported from wholesalers abroad\u00a0and thus not subjected to German legislation on deposits. These few exceptions aside however,\u00a0generally speaking, unless the label is illegible, these machines will accept what you put in there as long as they are\u00a0<em>Einwegflaschen<\/em>. You can easily tell this by looking at the label to see if it contains the description PET.\r\n\r\nNow, what happens with\u00a0<em>Mehrwegflaschen\u00a0<\/em>is different. There is no obligation on the part of the drinks trader or supermarket to take these back if they are not brands which are sold by that particular outlet. Anything other than returning the empties to the place where you purchased them from, with a valid receipt, is based on goodwill from the party you are returning them to.\r\n\r\nIn reality, most major\u00a0<em>Getr\u00e4nkemarkt\u00a0<\/em>chains will accept more or less anything back because they are big enough and have relationships with pretty much all drinks producers nationwide, even if not locally. There are one or two exceptions: They will not accept foreign bottles or crates, even if the shape and form is identical to those you bought in Germany. Case in point, I bought 3 crates of wonderful <a href=\"http:\/\/www.primator.cz\/en\/#\">Prim\u00e1tor<\/a> beer back from Czechia and still have the crates stuck in my cellar because nobody will take them. Certain types of promo non-standard sized bottles may also cause you issues.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n<h3><strong>Is there a deposit on all plastic and glass?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nErm, no. This is another anomaly where the law is inconsistent. Juice, milk, wine and spirits sold in glass or plastic bottles are not subjected to legally enforceable deposits. There are also no deposits on plastic or glass packaging of foodstuffs, for example cooking and condiment\u00a0sauces. Paper-based drinks cartons are also excluded from the law, even though they are usually coated in plastic.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n<h3><strong>What have been the consequences?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_860\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"244\"]<a href=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_1112.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-860\" src=\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_1112-244x300.jpg\" alt=\"mehrweg\" width=\"244\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a> The label will tell you that there is Pfand due on the bottle[\/caption]\r\n\r\nIn a nutshell, the law does not tip the scales enough in favour of incentivising the use of multi-use bottles. If you can return <i>Einwegflaschen <\/i>anywhere, but you have to think and plan where you take your <i>Mehrwegs <\/i>back to, is it really a surprise that consumers are turning their back on the environmentally friendly option? The price difference of 10 cents between single and multi-use bottles is peanuts, and does not incentivise\u00a0the consumer into doing what is right for the environment in terms of his shopping habits.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, the <em>Pfand\u00a0<\/em>law has\u00a0generated a very lucrative business for retailers. Generally, people are more likely to return multi-use bottles because often they are sold in crates, and carry the whopping \u20ac3.00+ crate deposit on\u00a0them (the exact amount depends on the type of product) which makes it worth your while to return. Single-use bottles, on the other hand, are always sold either loose or plastic wrapped as 6-packs. Who profits from this? The retailer. Every time you buy a bottle of water in a single-use bottle and throw the bottle away, the seller has made an additional 25 cents profit from you. The likelihood of that bottle making its way back to that specific retailer is slim.\r\n\r\nOne conseqeuence of the law is that smaller, regional producers, for example of water and fizzy soft drinks, are inherently disadvantaged because they have remained on the path of supplying in mutli-use bottles. They don't have multi-million Euro contracts with Aldi and Lidl that the likes of Coca Cola and Pepsi do, and rely heavily on the <i>Getr\u00e4nkemarkt <\/i>wholesalers for their business, most of whom deal in multi-use bottled product.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n<h3><strong>Is it a good system?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nThe intention is good but like many aspects of German bureaucracy, the law is not well thought through. If I were sat in the <em>Kanzleramt<\/em>, I would do the following:\r\n\r\nFirstly, I would make any bottles sold at train stations, street festivals and places where people can't conveniently just go and give back their empties\u00a0<em>pfandfrei<\/em>. The current system is daylight robbery and it\u00a0lines the pockets of retailers in such places, if they are making 15 or 25 cents additional margin on every soft drinks bottle they sell.\r\n\r\nSecondly, I would make all retail outlets larger than a sole-trading kiosk or small general store sell only\u00a0<em>Mehrwegflaschen<\/em>, as an acknowledgement to the environmental concerns of one-way plastic bottles and to drive home the\u00a0original reason to implement such a law in the first place. The likes of Aldi, Lidl, Coca Cola and Pepsi must be coerced into doing what the law intended it to do. Clearly they are not acting in an environmentally friendly way, so the Pfand system\u00a0must be designed in such a way to force their hand. If smaller, regional drinks companies are acting responsibly, and in doing so they are being disadvantaged, clearly this is not \"perfect competition\" as an economist would understand it to be.\r\n\r\nFinally, every single outlet which sells drinks in\u00a0<em>Mehrwegflaschen\u00a0<\/em>MUST\u00a0be legally obliged\u00a0to accept EVERY SINGLE brand and bottle shape and give back deposits on them. If you sell this stuff then must\u00a0take all of it back, regardless of where it was purchased. It confuses the hell out of people why certain places don't pay <em>Pfand<\/em> on certain\u00a0bottles. It's an inconvenience, and it turns customers off buying them. The environmental gain of recycling is rubbished if you have to drive back to the place you purchased the stuff from with the vehicle emissions that would entail. Retailers make a FORTUNE\u00a0from customers buying\u00a0<em>Pfandflaschen\u00a0<\/em>and not returning them. They can, and must, absorb the inconvenience of accepting other outlets' bottles. What goes around comes around.\r\n\r\nI'll let you all know when I'm running for office ;-)\r\n\r\n<span style=\"border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: 20px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; background-image: url(data:image\/svg+xml; base64,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); background-size: 14px 14px; background-color: #bd081c; position: absolute; opacity: 1; z-index: 8675309; display: none; cursor: pointer; border: none; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; top: 2126px; left: 102px; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;\">Save<\/span><span style=\"border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: 20px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; background-image: url(data:image\/svg+xml; base64,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); background-size: 14px 14px; background-color: #bd081c; position: absolute; opacity: 1; z-index: 8675309; display: none; cursor: pointer; border: none; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; top: 2126px; left: 102px; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;\">Save<\/span><span style=\"border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: 20px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; background-image: url(data:image\/svg+xml; base64,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); background-size: 14px 14px; background-color: #bd081c; position: absolute; opacity: 1; z-index: 8675309; display: none; cursor: pointer; border: none; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;\">Save<\/span><span style=\"border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: 20px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; background-image: url(data:image\/svg+xml; base64,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); background-size: 14px 14px; background-color: #bd081c; position: absolute; opacity: 1; z-index: 8675309; display: none; cursor: pointer; border: none; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;\">Save<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: 20px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; background-image: url(data:image\/svg+xml; base64,phn2zyb4bwxucz0iahr0cdovl3d3dy53my5vcmcvmjawmc9zdmciighlawdodd0imzbwecigd2lkdgg9ijmwchgiihzpzxdcb3g9ii0xic0xidmxidmxij48zz48cgf0acbkpsjnmjkundq5lde0ljy2mibdmjkundq5ldiyljcymiaymi44njgsmjkumju2ide0ljc1ldi5lji1nibdni42mzismjkumju2idaumduxldiyljcymiawlja1mswxnc42njigqzaumduxldyunjaxidyunjmyldaumdy3ide0ljc1ldaumdy3iemymi44njgsmc4wnjcgmjkundq5ldyunjaxidi5ljq0oswxnc42njiiigzpbgw9iinmzmyiihn0cm9rzt0ii2zmziigc3ryb2tllxdpzhropsixij48l3bhdgg+phbhdgggzd0itte0ljczmywxljy4nibdny41mtysms42odygms42njusny40otugms42njusmtqunjyyiemxljy2nswymc4xntkgns4xmdksmjquodu0idkuotcsmjyunzq0iem5ljg1niwyns43mtggos43ntmsmjqumtqzidewljaxniwymy4wmjigqzewlji1mywymi4wmsaxms41ndgsmtyuntcyidexlju0ocwxni41nzigqzexlju0ocwxni41nzigmteumtu3lde1ljc5nsaxms4xntcsmtqunjq2iemxms4xntcsmtiuodqyideyljixmswxms40otugmtmuntiyldexljq5nsbdmtqunjm3ldexljq5nsaxns4xnzusmtiumzi2ide1lje3nswxmy4zmjmgqze1lje3nswxnc40mzygmtqundyylde2ljegmtqumdkzlde3ljy0mybdmtmunzg1lde4ljkznsaxnc43ndusmtkuotg4ide2ljayocwxos45odggqze4ljm1mswxos45odggmjaumtm2lde3lju1niaymc4xmzysmtqumdq2iemymc4xmzysmtauotm5ide3ljg4ocw4ljc2nyaxnc42nzgsoc43njcgqzewljk1osw4ljc2nya4ljc3nywxms41mzygoc43nzcsmtqumzk4iem4ljc3nywxns41mtmgos4ymswxni43mdkgos43ndksmtcumzu5iem5ljg1niwxny40odggos44nzismtcunia5ljg0lde3ljczmsbdos43ndesmtgumtqxidkuntismtkumdizidkundc3lde5ljiwmybdos40miwxos40nca5lji4ocwxos40otegos4wncwxos4znzygqzcunda4lde4ljyymia2ljm4nywxni4yntigni4zodcsmtqumzq5iem2ljm4nywxmc4yntygos4zodmsni40otcgmtuumdiyldyundk3iemxos41ntusni40otcgmjmumdc4ldkunza1idizlja3ocwxmy45otegqzizlja3ocwxoc40njmgmjaumjm5ldiylja2miaxni4yotcsmjiumdyyiemxnc45nzmsmjiumdyyidezljcyocwyms4znzkgmtmumzayldiwlju3mibdmtmumzayldiwlju3miaxmi42ndcsmjmumdugmtiundg4ldizljy1nybdmtiumtkzldi0ljc4ncaxms4zotysmjyumtk2idewljg2mywyny4wntggqzeylja4niwyny40mzqgmtmumzg2ldi3ljyznyaxnc43mzmsmjcunjm3iemyms45nswyny42mzcgmjcuodaxldixljgyocayny44mdesmtqunjyyiemyny44mdesny40otugmjeuotusms42odygmtqunzmzldeunjg2iibmawxspsijymqwodfjij48l3bhdgg+pc9npjwvc3znpg==); 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