Lithuania’s deposit system meets future EU standards; compares with Austria, Ireland, Spain, and Croatia’s recycling efforts.
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Lithuanian waste management administrator USAD head Gintaras Varnas stated that Lithuania has already met standards that will only be mandatory across the EU in 2029, noting that the country is advancing in container return, successfully collecting glass containers despite not being required by the EU. During the summer, nearly 209.5 million containers were returned, primarily PET plastic bottles. While some politicians suggest expanding the system, experts caution that the current model is optimal and changing it could disrupt existing waste management structures. The head of the Lithuanian Trade Association believes the current system is optimal. In contrast, Austria is expanding its system to include plastic and metal containers, aiming for 90% return by 2027, though this is less ambitious than Lithuania’s results. Ireland implemented a deposit system in 2024, achieving a return rate of about 91%. Spain lags behind, with only 41% return for plastic bottles in 2023, and plans to implement a national system in late 2026. France is testing glass container return systems in some regions. Croatia established its container return system before joining the EU in 2006, achieving high return rates between 2018 and 2022.
