It was found that the 'unreturned empty bottle deposit', which was created when consumers did not return the empty bottle after purchasing a beer bottle or soju bottle, amounted to 55.2 billion won.
According to the 'Status of Unreturned Deposits for Empty Bottles' submitted by Rep. Seong-Jun Jin of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 29th, the average annual average of 174 unclaimed deposits among the deposits paid by consumers for reuse and recycling of empty bottles such as beer and soju bottles. It was found that the balance of the standard deposit reached 55.2 billion won at the end of last year.
The 'Empty Container Deposit System', which has been in effect since 1985, is a system in which consumers purchase glass-made bottled products such as soju, beer, and mineral water that include the cost of empty bottles, and then return the deposit when returning the empty bottles to the place of purchase. refers to the system.
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This system is one of the resource recycling deposits imposed on consumers in accordance with Article 15 (2) of the 'Resource Recycling Act' and is operated to promote the reuse and recycling of empty bottles by manufacturers and importers.
If the consumer does not return the empty bottle, the remaining non-refundable deposit is deposited in the bank.
In order to receive and return deposits for empty bottles, and to execute and manage non-refundable deposits, 'deposit target businesses' such as Hite Jinro, OB Beer, and Lotte Chilsung Beverage received permission from the Ministry of Environment to establish a non-profit corporation called 'Resource Circulation Deposit Management Center (COSMO)'. was co-founded.
As producers obligated to recycle under Article 16 of the 'Resource Recycling Act', they have an obligation to reuse and recycle packaging materials such as empty bottles. do.
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However, Rep. Jin pointed out, "Actually, the cost of operating the center is being used only as a financial source for the non-refundable deposit, which has not been returned by consumers."
He continued, "According to the law, businesses are obliged to reuse and recycle empty bottles, but the economic burden is being met with money from consumers' pockets." In this regard, we need to increase the responsibilities of business owners at the source,” he said.
Meanwhile, consumers can return empty bottles to any retailer that sells returnable bottled products, such as discount stores and retailers.
However, empty containers that cannot be reused due to damage or foreign substances in the bottles cannot be returned. .
In addition, the location and operating hours of the unmanned empty container collection machine and return collection point by region can be found on the COSMO website.
(Photo = Yonhap News, provided by the Resource Circulation Deposit Management Center (COSMO))