Thanks to such machines for accepting bottles and cans, Finns return 90% of all empty containers
As the portal "This is Finland" notes, there are almost 5,000 machines for returning bottles and cans throughout the country. Most of them are located in stores, gas stations, and kiosks. These machines work very simply: the bottle must be placed bottom first, after which the machine scans it and credits a certain amount.
1.9 billion bottles — that's how many Finns returned in 2018. This is more than 90% of all containers purchased in the country. The Finnish system achieved these figures after creating bottle return machines and introducing the ability to accept plastic 10 years ago.
The first attempts at bottle recycling were made back in the 1950s. Now there are almost 5,000 machines accessible to the public throughout Finland. Most of them are located in stores, gas stations, and kiosks, making returns as convenient and natural as possible. Another 10,000 points are at the disposal of hotels and restaurants.
These machines work very simply, and instructions are often available in Russian as well. A bottle purchased in Finland must be placed bottom first, after which the machine scans it and credits a certain amount. For plastic containers, you can get from 20 to 40 cents depending on size, for an aluminum can — 15 cents, and for a glass bottle — from 10 to 40 cents. After return, the containers are sorted and sent for recycling.
Then a receipt is issued, which can be used to get cash or spend it in the store. Only on deposit payments, the operator company Suomen Palautuspakkaus Oy ("returnable packaging," abbreviated Palpa) spends 300 million euros per year.
After return, bottles and cans are sorted and sent for recycling. This allows significant resource savings: making a new aluminum can from an old one requires only 5% of the energy compared to making a similar can from new raw materials.
"Every Finn returns 342 items per year: 234 aluminum cans, 84 plastic bottles, and 24 glass bottles," says Tommi Vihavainen, Managing Director of Palpa.
The state has entrusted this sector to private hands. "Palpa is a completely non-profit company that receives no income from the state," notes Tommi. Palpa includes major beverage producers such as Olvi, Sinebrychoff, and Hartwall. This allows them not to pay the packaging tax.
The operator's turnover grows year by year and now amounts to 80 million euros, which is 10 million more than two years ago. This money goes to maintaining the system. Palpa's income comes from the sale of materials, recycling fees, and deposits on non-returnable packaging.
Other countries, including Russia and the UK, are constantly interested in the Finnish practice. "Most visitors want to see how the return system works in Finland. Palpa does not act as a consultant, but is happy to present the best system in the world," Tommi Vihavainen confirms with pride.
As for bottles that for some reason remain uncollected on the streets of Finland, they are collected by those who want to earn money from it. Helsinki city administration notes that such collectors greatly ease the work of city services, for example, during mass celebrations.
"We only collect sparkling wine bottles. Everything else is taken by container collectors. In addition, we offer a movie ticket for 20 wine bottles. Last year, we issued 1,500 tickets under this scheme," says Elina Nummi, Head of Urban Environment Projects in Helsinki.
Bottles are not a headache at commercial events either. An example is Flow, the largest festival with over 70,000 visitors. "In principle, all our bottles are returned. The price of the drink includes a deposit: wine or champagne bottles — 10 euros, and all others — 1 euro," says Susanna Hulkko, press secretary of the capital's festival. This deposit can be obtained when returning the bottle or donated to the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.