Stricter covenant for litter

Litter has not been on the policy agenda for long. In the second packaging covenant (VROM, 1997), the government and the packaging industry stated their intention of reducing the amount of litter. Under the third packaging covenant (VROM, 2002), there is even a separate sub-convenant for litter.

Litter in the second packaging covenant

The second packaging covenant contained a 'soft' provision about litter. There were no objectives or sanctions on non-compliance with the agreement.

Litter in the third packaging covenant

The third packaging covenant includes a separate sub-covenant, with a specific monitoring protocol, for combating litter. Agreement has been reached about reducing the amount of bottles and cans in litter by 80% by 2005. The agreement between the government and the business sector is now backed up by a sanction for the failure to achieve the objective. If the number of bottles and cans has not been reduced by two thirds by 1 January 2004, a system of returnable deposits will be introduced. This 'big stick' has resulted in a stricter objective and the probability that the covenant will succeed is now much greater.

References

• VROM (1997). Tweede convenant Verpakkingen. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.
• VROM (2002). Ontwerp derde convenant Verpakkingen. This covenant was drawn up in June 2002 but it has not yet been signed.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Composition of non-separated household waste in the Netherlands, 1940-2000
• Collection of separated household waste in the Netherlands, 1985-2003
• Disposal of household waste in the Netherlands, 1985-2002
• Second packaging covenant, 1998-2000 (page is not available yet)
• Index Environmental pressure, theme of Waste management, for data about the total amount of waste generated in the Netherlands.

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

• More information about litter can be found on the website of Nederland Schoon and in the report 'Inzamel- en beloningssystemen ter vermindering van zwerfvuil, drie concepten voor een aanpak' (CE, 2001. Report nr. 01.5090.21, G.C. Boumans et al. Centrum voor Energiebesparing, 2001, Delft.). See the website of the CE under publications.
• The Stichting Nederland Schoon (Clean Netherlands Association) was established in 1991 by the business sector, the Royal Dutch Touring Club (ANWB) and the NVRD (the Dutch Association for Waste and Cleansing Management). It initiates and supports projects and campaigns for preventing and combating litter.