What is the bail system in Germany and how does it work? Interzero in Berlin

The deposit system in Germany, known as 'Pfand' or 'Pfandsystem', is a well-developed and widely used system that aims to encourage consumer recycling and reduce packaging waste. For single-use bottles, the deposit amount is 25 euro cents. The deposit price for reusable bottles is set by the manufacturer and ranges from 8 to 25 euro cents.

The entire deposit system covers up to 18 billion packages per year, of which 95% are handled by bottle machines and 5% by a bag system.

On 24 August, together with employees from the Eurocash Group, we travelled to Germany to look at the bail system in practice. Together, we visited shops with both bagged and automatic collection systems. We also visited the Interzero Conversion Centre, where waste is sorted into the appropriate fractions.

Thanks to the trip, we were able to see with our own eyes how retail chains deal with German legislation. We were able to exchange experiences with our partners and learn more about the procedures taking place in the units visited.

The bail system will soon come into effect in Poland. As Interzero, we strive to learn as much as possible about the needs of the industry. We refine our offering, analyse the successes of others and explore opportunities for development. We believe that together we will be able to meet the legal challenges and create a system as efficient as that of our western neighbours.

Benefit from our experience and create a bail system together with us. We will provide you with solutions to facilitate waste collection and logistics and take over reporting obligations. More information HERE and HERE.