In 2019, the EU and its member states agreed on the EU Single Use Plastic (SUP) Directive in order to reduce plastic waste across the union. The directive states that by 2030, all plastic packaging has to be re-usable or easily recyclable. The recycling target for all member states is 50% by 2025. The collection target is 77% by 2025 and 90% by 2029. In our opinion, these numbers can only be achieved by the introduction of a deposit system.

In Bulgaria, the national recycling rate of the total amount of waste is only 30%. With the introduction of a deposit-return system, this rate could be significantly increased. This would not only ensure that Bulgaria will meet the EU targets but it would also generate about 2.000 new workplaces in Bulgaria and lead to a vast decrease of littering and environmental pollution through PET.

A deposit-return system in Bulgaria will foster environmental protection, market transparency, as well as new business and new jobs in a green, sustainable industry.