Minister Pless emphasizes historical importance of new beverage packaging deposit system

RIGA - At the unveiling of the packaging deposit system today, all the participants of the event emphasized the great historical significance of the new system - this is a significant turning point in changing the thinking and habits of residents, a step towards new actions and traditions.

According to Arturs Toms Pless (For Development), Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, this is a turning point in environmental protection in Latvia, confirming that people here consider waste not as waste, but as a resource for reuse.

As reported, a deposit system for beverage packaging begins operation in Latvia today, where residents will have to pay a deposit fee of 10 cents for each beverage purchased in a deposit package, which can be returned for a refund.

When handing over the empty deposit package to the automatic deposit point where the taromat is located, the resident will be issued a special deposit coupon, which can be used as a means of payment for the purchase of any goods in the same store.

The deposit system will be able to transfer packaging of glass, PET and aluminum cans for soft-drinks, various beverages, all types of beer and other alcoholic beverages (less than 6 percent alcohol content). For each purchased deposit package, the resident will have to pay a deposit in the amount of ten euro cents, which can be returned after handing over the package and if the package has a special identification mark and barcode. The package must also be empty.