Breweries and importers: Expanding the deposit-refund systems

20.12.2018

Palpa is expanding the deposit-refund systems to apply to, in addition to the customs tariff item 22 subject to the beverage container tax, fruit and vegetable juices as well as juice and beverage concentrates and glögg concentrates. The product groups included in the expansion have been described in greater detail in the “Product groups accepted into the return systems” table.

Product groups accepted into return systems

The registration of items included in the new product groups can be started immediately. Palpa approves new products into the deposit-refund systems every 15th and the last day of the month (or the weekday preceding them). Products can be sold subject to deposit after approval to return system. Product registration requires company membership in the return system of the container type in question.

The container must conform to the current material and marking requirements.

Package design guidelines:

Can

PET bottle

Glass bottle

  

The value of the deposit is determined by the volume of the product packed in the container. Palpa follows deposit values in accordance with the decree on the return systems of certain beverage containers.

In plastic bottles and cans, when products that did not used to be subject to a deposit become subject to a deposit, the old barcodes may not be used.

When products that did not used to be subject to a deposit become subject to a deposit, the old barcodes may not be used in glass containers registered using a national barcode (the product is only sold in Finland using the barcode in question). The barcode does not need to be changed in glass containers registered using an international barcode (the product is sold internationally using the barcode in question).

As the administrator of the deposit-refund systems, Palpa may limit the products approved for the deposit-refund systems. Container content residues may not impair the recycling value of the material, cause interruptions or malfunction of the reverse vending machines or create hygiene or odour hazards in the storage or transport of empty containers.

Because of the expansion, the Rules of deposit-refund systems have been amended. The Introduction page includes a note that the system will also include beverage containers that are not subject to the tax relief.

New membership fees and the membership fee policy

30.11.2018

The membership fees will change as of 1 January 2019. From that point on, the membership fee will be EUR 1,000 (VAT 0%) in all return systems and it will be invoiced in one instalment. The membership fee will be invoiced when the company registers its first product or sells products included within the scope of the system. 

Companies that have already joined the can or plastic bottle retrn systems will not be charged more membership fees. 

Companies that have joined the glass bottle return system in 2018 and have opted for an annual fee will be charged an additional EUR 187 (VAT 0%) in 2019. Companies that have joined the glass bottle return system before 2018 will not be charged more membership fees. 

The amendment pertaining to the membership fee policy has resulted in a change to the rules of the deposit-refund systems (Definitions, Membership Fee). The Membership Fee is paid for the establishment and development investments linked to joining the deposit-refund system, and it is paid in the year in which the member issues products included in the system to circulation or registers a product in the deposit-refund system.

Palpa recycling fees 2019

23.11.2018

In the plastic bottle, the fees of clear bottle will reduce by 10%. Recycling fees for cans and glass bottles do not change.

BEVERAGE CAN Recycling fee
1.1.2019 (vat 0%)
Aluminium can 0,00552
       
PET BOTTLE Recycling fee
1.1.2019 (vat 0%)
Clear, less than 1,0 litre 0,01548
Clear, 1,0 litre or more 0,03096
Coloured, less than 1,0 litre 0,02459
Coloured, 1,0 litre or more 0,03934
Mixed material, less than 1,0 litre 0,07712
Mixed material, 1,0 litre or more 0,11568
       
GLASS BOTTLE   Recycling fee
1.1.2019 (vat 0%)
Retail product    
  International barcode  
  0,5 litre or less 0,08640
  Over 0,5 litre 0,14400
  National barcode  
  0,5 litre or less 0,07920
  Over 0,5 litre 0,13680
Horeca product
  0,5 litre or less 0,13230
  Over 0,5 litre 0,22050

Importers an breweries: New design guidelines for deposit-based beverage containers

03.09.2018

Palpa has updated guidelines for the design and labeling of deposit-based beverage packages. The design guidelines have been supplemented and clarified on the basis of experience and feedback.

The bar code size guidelines have been updated to the GS1 Finland guidelines. The bar code size measurement method as well as the minimum height of the bar code have changed.

In the case of plastic and glass bottles, the bar code placement guidelines have changed.

Information on the bar code usage area, the difference between the retail and Horeca products, the use of the deposit symbol and the change of the importer have been added to the glass bottle design guidelines.

The plastic bottle marking guidelines and material specification are combined with the same document.

New guidelines can be introduced flexibly within the transition period by 31 August 2019.

 

Guidelines for aluminium cans 9/2018

Guidelines for PET bottles 9/2018

Guidelines for glass bottles 9/2018

Palpa news - Horeca June 2018

07.06.2018

The delivery schedule of Palpa stickers

Palpa sends the stickers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  We want to remind all return locations to order the stickers on time.

More Palpa stickers can be ordered from Extranet (extra.palpa.fi) or from [email protected]. Please remember to use only the return location’s own stickers in returns.

Returning correctly

The appropriate sorting of beverage packages is essential for both the reuse of the material and for paying the refunds.

CANS
Use Palpa manual bag for returns. Do not return other beverage packages or garbage in the bag.

PLASTIC BOTTLES
Use Palpa manual bag for returns. Do not return other beverage packages or garbage in the bag. NB! Only plastic bottles with Palpas deposit marking.

Sort cans and plastic bottles separately and return them always in original shape, empty and clean.  

GLASS BOTTLES
Return in 240 l plastic container with lid. Other glass material, porcelain, ceramics or garbage is prohibited to return in the container.

NB! It is not allowed to return glass bottles in a bag. Pieces of broken glass can be a large health and safety risk for the driver and for the personnel in the processing plant. If the return is not in compliance with Palpa’s instructions, the deposit refunds of the return may not be paid. Remember to follow Palpa’s sorting and return instructions in all returns.

More information on returning