Secret deposit: Experts explain what many do not know about the acceptance of empties

Created: 07/06/2022 05:42

By: Kai Hartwig

You can't get rid of empties at every deposit machine.

But consumer advocates believe that customers in the supermarket can claim their rights.

Munich – A cool drink can be particularly refreshing, especially in the summertime.

Whether in cans or bottles - many supermarkets and discounters have numerous products in their range.

But beware if the emptied drinks are returned.

Deposit: Supermarkets and discounters often refuse to accept empties

It doesn't really matter whether you use the deposit machines at Aldi, Lidl, Edeka, Rewe, Kaufland or elsewhere.

Many customers experience a big problem every day in almost every supermarket or discounter: the machine does not accept the empties.

Discussions with the employees of the respective branch are usually not fruitful either.

Most of the time, the supermarket staff say: "We don't carry this brand." A payment of the deposit amount for one-way or returnable empties is then refused.

The employees refer to their right to only accept empties from products that they also have in their range.

They don't want to issue the deposit receipt, which can also lose its validity.

But is that also allowed?

Not every bottle is accepted at the deposit machine in the supermarket.

(symbol photo) © Lukas Schulze/dpa

Consumer advocates recommend persistence - and refer to the "take-back obligation" of the supermarkets

Some experts say no.

This is what consumer advocates recommend to customers: stay firm and stand up for your rights.

"Don't let yourself be swayed and point out the retailer's take-back obligation," says the Hamburg consumer advice center's website.

And further: “The obligation to take back is clearly regulated in the Packaging Act and it also applies to empties that a machine might reject.

In most cases, retailers are obliged to pay out the one-way deposit.”

also read

Pension, Hartz IV, sick leave: These innovations will come in July

Recall of chips: manufacturer warns - toxin found in two varieties

Consumer center: Supermarkets must also accept empties from products outside the range

The consumer advice center of the Hanseatic city tries to provide an example for better orientation.

For example, a supermarket or discounter that sells Coke cans is also obliged to accept empty beer cans.

Even if he doesn't sell canned beer.

Only a branch that does not sell beverage cans can refuse to accept them.

Shops with sales areas of more than 200 square meters must accept bottles and cans with a recognizable deposit logo if they offer packaging of the same material that is subject to a deposit.

A sample letter can even be downloaded from the homepage of the nationwide consumer advice center.

With this you can write a letter to authorities such as city administration, district administration or regulatory office.

Objective of the letter of complaint: Reimbursement of the costs incurred as a result of the refusal to take back empties.

Take a quick look in your fridge: these foods have to go

View photo gallery

New deposit rule since July 1st: juices are also affected – the first branches want to introduce a return limit

The subject of deposits could pick up speed further in the coming weeks and months.

Because since July 1st, after water, beer and lemonades, retailers have also only been able to offer juices in returnable bottles or cans.

A transitional period allowed them to be sold without a deposit until the end of June.

In the future, this will only be possible with very few types of beverages.

Incidentally, the big beneficiaries of the refusal to accept empties have so far been the beverage manufacturers.

According to estimates by the Hamburg Consumer Advice Center, they "cash in the three-digit million range every year" if the trade does not take back the bottles and cans in full.

In the meantime, it has become known that some branches of large supermarket and discounter chains want to introduce an innovation in terms of deposits.

Aldi, Rewe, Lidl and others are planning a deposit deposit limit per customer.

(kh)