Pilot study for deposit on disposable mugs

While littering is a visible problem so is the appropriate provision of waste bins. The vast majority of waste collected from the public environment is not sorted for material recycling. The purpose of the project was to test and evaluate a deposit-return-system on “on-the-go” single use packaging. A three-month test focused on coffee cups. A local marketing communications campaign provided consumers with information on how the packaging was to be recycled. Mini-recycling stations (paper, glass, plastic and ‘other’) were provided within a short walk. The numerous regular ‘unsorted’ waste bins remained in place during the test.   

When buying a coffee at participating cafes in Örnsköldsvik, between 1 June and 31 August 2021, consumers paid an additional 2 SEK. This deposit was refunded to the consumer when they recycled their coffee cup. This was done using a smartphone ‘app’ at one of the eight mini-recycling stations in the city center. It was also possible to get the refund at the conventional household packaging recycling stations in Örnsköldsvik.  

The evaluation considered three areas.   

Firstly, the extent consumers retrieved the deposit. In the test consumers retrieved the deposit about 10% of the time. The majority was refunded and recycled at conventional recycling stations where consumers normally recycle household packaging.  

Secondly, recycling levels and the purity of collected waste. The test demonstrated increased sorting and improved sorting quality. Of the paper coffee cups left at one of the eight mini-recycling stations, 90% were sorted in the correct fraction.  Compared to other beverage paper cups of which 70% were sorted correctly. When considering the unsorted waste from the numerous regular waste bins, an overall recycling level of 56% of refundable coffee cups was achieved. This, together with the low share of coffee cups refunded, indicates that the proximity and convenience of disposal has a higher value than the need to recycle.   

Thirdly, acceptance among consumers and cafés. A deposit-return-system for on-the-go packaging was not crucial for increasing recycling in public environment. The participating and surveyed consumers were positive towards the project's aim to increase recycling of on-the-go packaging. They did not, however, appreciate the design of the app used in the project. Café owners varied in their perception of the digital deposit system.  

The main project conclusion is that a deposit-return-system for on-the-go packaging is not crucial for increased source sorting in public environments.  

This was an ambitious project testing consumer behavioral change. Örnsköldsvik’s city centre went from using bins without the possibility of recycling-to-recycling stations in public environments with the possibility to recycle coffee cups with a refund.  While residents and visitors participated, there was limited marketing and only a three-month test period. As a consequence, results must be qualified by the relatively small data sets. That includes physical volumes of cups refunded and recycled, the number of respondents in interviews and surveys. Örnsköldsvik’s city centre has retained recycling stations following the project.