We are starting to back up PET bottles and cans. Read what rules will apply from the new year – TVNOVINY.sk

Since the new year, backups of cans and bottles of mineral water, baby water or sweetened beverages have been introduced in Slovakia. All such packages will be marked with a capital Z in the arrows. You can find it at the barcode, the so-called EAN code, goods with the inscription – backed up. You will pay a deposit of 15 cents in the store for each such package.

These packages will be backed up

All disposable plastic and metal beverage containers with a volume of 0.1 to three liters will be backed up. These will be carbonated sweet drinks, non-carbonated sweet drinks, mineral waters, spring waters, infant waters, flavored waters, fruit juices, nectars, fruit drinks, iced teas, sports drinks, energy drinks, beer, cider, perry, radler and fruit wine. Exceptions will be packaging for milk, syrups and hard alcohol.

Where you can return the packaging

You do not have to return them to the store where you bought the drink. You can easily return them to any store that has joined the backup system. There are currently over 2,000 stores. The deposit will then be refunded to you in cash or deducted from your next purchase.

For stores larger than 300 square meters, the introduction of backup is mandatory, for smaller stores is voluntary. Operations can choose which type of backup packaging to choose.

They can choose automated collection via a backup, semi-automated or manual collection, which is done by the saleswoman at the cash register using a special hand-held scanner.

Remember that the bottles and cans you bought for New Year’s Eve cannot be returned to the store. They need to be pressed and placed in a yellow container. The reason is that they are without the mentioned designation Z.

Frequently asked questions about backup.

Why did Slovakia take this step? “The goal is to reduce the amount of free waste, motivate consumers to take a more responsible approach to disposable packaging and collect at least 90 percent of beverage packaging and recycle it efficiently,” Lucia Morvai, Director of External Relations and Communications from the Backup System Administrator, explained to tvnoviny.sk.

Sales of wine and beer in PET bottles

Still, plastic the bottles should not be used repeatedly for health reasons. With each purchase, you should have the drink dripped into a new container. He will already have to have the wine shops after the new backup.

As Morvai further explained, several winemakers or brewers who have registered have already turned to the deposit manager so that they can fill these drinks into plastic containers with a deposit from the new year.

„For packaging of the same volume, shape and size, it is possible to use a sticker with one EAN code, e.g. 1 EAN code = 1.5 l plastic tapping bottle and mandatory Z-backed backup system logo. In the mentioned stores, the customer pays 15 eurocents for the packaging when buying it, and then he can return the packaging at any point of collection or to a deposit machine, “she emphasized.

If the mentioned sellers do not know how to advise, they can easily contact the e-mail address of the advance administrator [email protected] and find all the necessary requests on their website. in the Find out more section, which is located in the middle.