The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), World Wildlife Fund (WWF) hosted a workshop (24 September 2024) to continue to promote the inception of the Deposit Return System (DRS) as a complimenting mechanism for Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) in the Philippines in Seda Hotel, Vertis North, Quezon City.
Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Christian Halaas Lyster and DENR Undersecretary Atty. Analiza Teh open the first phase feasibility study workshop for the Deposit Return System in the Philippines at the Seda Hotel Vertis North in Quezon City.
The workshop follows the discussions last year, in line with the goal of the Philippines to achieve its target of 80% plastic waste recovery by 2028. The DRS can boost the circular economy of the country, where consumers can refund deposit from plastic products upon the return of its packaging at an accessible collection point.
DRS is a high-performing recycling scheme which incentivizes consumers for returning the packaging and containers. DRS is a proven and tested model to have accelerated circularity of beverage containers up to 90%. It is currently implemented in over 60 markets all over the world including countries in Europe, Oceania, Africa and the Middle East, states in America and Australia, and provinces in Canada. DRS is influencing consumer behavior towards solid waste management by encouraging consumers to return beverage bottles.
“The Deposit Return System is deeply rooted in Norwegian society,” said Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Christian Halaas Lyster highlighting the importance of DRS to Norwegian circular economy and its development. “Norway is one of the first countries to have set and implemented the DRS and its success resulted to a very impressive return rate of 92.8% of plastic bottles throughout the country today. We are confident that the introduction of closed loop solutions would be an effective response to the waste challenges of the Philippines” he added.
The organizers successfully concluded the Phase 1 of the DRS feasibility study in the Philippines.
DENR Undersecretary Atty. Analiza Teh shared that department’s drive to collaborate with civil society partners in creating a sustainable DRS program, and eventually scale it up.
The workshop issues the Phase 1 Feasibility Study which aims to finetune DRS mechanism for the Philippines and set the tone on how it would fit in terms of social dynamics, economic development, and available infrastructure in context. The implementation of the DRS can vary from one place to another, and the feasibility study is an approach to tailor-fit the design of the circularity to its setting.
“DRS success key is simple message to the consumer – each beverage package has a monetary value and therefor needs to be returned. Different deposit return systems are unique, so will be the potential Philippines one, yet executing best practice DRSs vital elements such as not for profit, versatile collection infrastructure, food grade recycling of collected packages, green economy created jobs, etc,” says Earth Care Consulting partner and consultant Mr. Rauno Raal.
This workshop also serves as an avenue for discussions to share best-practices between high-performing DRS countries (Norway, Germany, Australia, and Estonia) and the Philippines. The Feasibility study was conducted by an international consulting agency based in Estonia – Earth Care and was funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila for its first two tranches.
TOMRA Vice President Public Affairs, System Design in Asia Lovish Ahuja shared that “Philippines government’s decision to roll out EPR Act of 2022 is testimony of its commitment in resolving the gauntlet of plastic pollution. This will go a long way in promoting circularity into action and contribute towards larger goals of Sustainable Development including Climate Change. The DRS is an established and potent tool in mitigating the menace of plastic containers (e.g. PET, and other beverage packaging types) stemming for beverage applications. DRS is known for achieving highest collection for beverage containers (PET, metal cans, glass and liquid paper board) compared to any other EPR scheme, also act as a catalyst for promoting recycling sector by generating clean feedstock in a required volume. For country like Philippines, with thousands of islands, economy of scale is a pivotal element for promotion/feasibility of recycling sector, and this is where DRS will come handy with proven highest collection rate.”
The Norwegian Embassy in Manila funds the second phase of the feasibility study for the DRS programme with support from WWF. The project is setting the target for pilot project approval and implementation for the first DRS pilot site by 2025.