Government approves amendment introducing deposit system for PET bottles and cans

The government has approved an amendment to the Packaging Act, which introduces a deposit system for PET bottles and metal cans. The decision was announced at a press conference on Thursday by Environment Minister Petr Hladík.

The amendment aims to introduce a four-crown deposit for each bottle or can, though the exact amount will be determined by a decree. The draft legislation will now be submitted to Parliament for further debate.

The primary objective of the new legislation is to boost the recycling rate and limit the amount of waste that ends up in nature. Additionally, the legislation also aims to introduce a recycling fee for manufacturers and restrict the distribution of leaflets to consumers who do not wish to receive them.