TOMRA is preparing with MOHU for Hungary's upcoming deposit return scheme launch in January 2024
Preparations are under way for MOHU (MOL Hulladékgazdálkodási Zrt.) and its partner TOMRA to provide reverse vending systems for the return of beverage PET bottles, cans and glass bottles across Hungary for the deposit return system (DRS) set to launch on 1 January 2024. MOHU is the central system administrator for Hungary’s future DRS.
TOMRA is supplying more than 1500 high-volume reverse vending machines for medium and large collection points such as supermarkets and hypermarkets in urban settings. These return locations seek to ensure optimal convenience for Hungarian consumers to return their containers and deliver on the ambitious targets set by the central system administrator.
“Success in implementing a deposit return system in Hungary is created through a well-tuned partnership that thrives on our collaboration, commitment and shared responsibility to turn drink containers into valuable resources that can be used again and again,” explains Roman Postl, VP, Head of Business unit East Central Europe at TOMRA Collection. “TOMRA together with MOHU is bringing a sustainable future for Hungary in just a few months and our teams are working on simple, hassle-free and well-prepared solutions every day.”
Track record in deposit return
TOMRA established a local Hungary entity in 2022, with Managing Director Dávid Bakos building an organization of approximately 40 people. With more than 50 years’ experience working in deposit return systems and with approximately 82,000 reverse vending machines in over 60 markets, TOMRA collects over 45 billion containers for recycling each year. TOMRA has worked in roles across every part of the DRS value chain, including material pick-up, PET processing and data management. Its recent work has included roll-outs of reverse vending infrastructure in new DRSs in Latvia and Slovakia (2022), New South Wales in Australia (2017), and Lithuania (2016).
“With TOMRA’s extensive experience in deposit return systems and proven track record in mobilizing reverse vending infrastructure, we will be in a good position to deliver on our commitments to Hungary’s waste management concession. We look forward to providing a high-performing DRS for the country, together with our suppliers and our partners," Szilvia Szabó, Head of Producer Responsibility Systems at MOHU.
Hungary’s deposit return scheme
Deposit return systems like Hungary’s work by adding a small amount on top of the price of a drink, which is refunded to the consumer when they bring back the empty container for recycling. This incentivizes container return and discourages litter, with the financial value also communicating that the materials have a value for society as a resource that can be made into new containers again and again. Eligible drink containers in Hungary's DRS will include glass, aluminum and PET plastic.
The reverse vending machines will be located in “Points of Collection” including supermarkets and high-traffic public locations across Hungary, to make it convenient for consumers to return their containers and make recycling part of their regular routines. When a consumer inserts their containers in a reverse vending machine, it automatically identifies and sorts the containers, and pays out the correct refund, more efficiently than through manual returns.
"We commend Hungary’s initiative in driving a circular economy and look forward to working with MOHU in delivering a world-class deposit system infrastructure,” added Marius Fraurud, Head of TOMRA Collection, the reverse vending division of the company. “Together we will strive to make container returns as convenient as possible for consumers to ensure high participation in this new recycling program.”
Working toward a circular economy in Hungary
Hungary’s DRS seeks to transform waste management to drive a circular economy, combat litter and improve access to secondary raw material. It also aims to introduce Extended Producer Responsibility and fulfil the targets of the European Union’s Single-Use Plastics Directive, which mandates that member countries like Hungary separately collect 90% of plastic beverage bottles by 2029.
“It is a pleasure to be appointed by MOL Group and MOHU to such an integral role in the upcoming deposit return system and work together to help the country take bold steps toward circularity,” said Tove Andersen, President & CEO of TOMRA. “TOMRA has a strong and competent European organization with solid local experience in delivering attractive and reliable return solutions, which have been embraced by consumers and contribute to high container return rates.”
About MOL Group:
MOL Group is a leading integrated Central Eastern European oil, gas, petrochemicals and consumer retail company, headquartered in Budapest, Hungary. It is active in over 30 countries with a dynamic international workforce of 26,000 people and a track record of more than 100 years. MOL is committed to transform its traditional fossil-fuel-based operations into a low-carbon, sustainable business model and aspires to become net carbon neutral by 2050 while shaping the low-carbon circular economy in Central and Eastern Europe. MOL also wants to play a key role in shaping the low-carbon circular economy with investments in new businesses such as waste integration and utilization, recycling, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), advanced biofuels and potentially hydrogen-related opportunities. In the next five years, MOL will spend USD 1bn on new, low-carbon and sustainable projects to become a key player in CEE in the circular economy.
As a milestone of this transformation, in 2022 MOL was announced as a winner for the Hungarian state concession tender covering municipal waste management services. MOL established MOHU MOL Waste Management Plc. (the concession company) in 2022 September to implement this process. The concession agreement covers a period of 35 years with a commencement date of July 1, 2023. As part of the concession, MOL also has to set-up and operate from 1 January 2024 the deposit return system.
The aim of the concession is to achieve the extremely strict waste management targets set by the European Union: 65% recycling rate and maximum 10% landfilling rate by 2040.
About TOMRA Collection:
TOMRA Collection provides reverse vending machines for Clean Loop Recycling, to transform society’s habits and keep valuable resources in a continuous loop of use and reuse. The company’s solutions collect aluminum, plastic and glass beverage containers to be continually reused and recycled back into new bottles and cans. With approximately 82,000 installations across more than 60 markets, TOMRA reverse vending machines capture over 45 billion used bottles and cans each year. This reduces reliance on raw materials, and ensures fewer containers end up in our streets, oceans and landfills. TOMRA’s reverse vending machines, digital solutions and service make recycling easy for the industry, system owners, retailers and consumers to contribute to a more sustainable planet. Visit our Reverse Vending pages on tomra.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
TOMRA Collection is a division of TOMRA Group. Today, TOMRA is leading the resource revolution to transform how the planet’s resources are obtained, used and reused to enable a world without waste. The company’s other business divisions comprise TOMRA Food and TOMRA Recycling. The Group employs approximately 5000 globally and is publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.