Instructions for return locations
01.06.2023
Return instructions for returns without reverse vending machine
Cans / plastic bottles
Sort cans and plastic bottles separately.
Return all cans, also non-deposit.
Return only plastic bottles with Palpa´s deposit marking.
NOTE! Non-deposit plastic bottles must not be sorted into deposit material, as the recyclability of the material cannot be guaranteed. Due to the recycling of plastic, different types of plastic must not be mixed. In addition, the wrong materials in the packaging can prevent recycling.
Non-deposit plastic bottles can be recycled by returning them to a plastic collection point or as an energy fraction.
Return in a manual bag
Return cand and plastic bottles only in a manual bag (red print).
Close the bag tightly with a tie band and attach Palpa sticker to the tie.
NOTE! The bag must not be overfilled.
Glass bottles
Sort beverage bottles of glass as intact and empty to a glass container.
Note! It is not allowed to put refillable glass bottles to Palpa's glass container. Return them in a crate or on plastic tray to Hartwall.
Impurities prevent recycling
Returns must not contain rubbish or other impurities as they will prevent recycling.
If the return is made in violation of the instructions, Palpa is entitled to sanction the return location for noncompliance with the instructions. The beverage supplier has the right to refuse to accept packaged transport units in violation of the instructions.
Remember to follow Palpa's sorting and return instructions in all returns.
Notification of contact information changes
Please remember to inform Palpa if the contact information of your place of business changes. Changes can be reported to the address [email protected] or to number (09) 868 9860.
Non-deposit plastic bottles
02.06.2022
Non-deposit plastic bottles must not be sorted into Palpa's transport units, as the recyclability of the material cannot be guaranteed.
Due to the recycling of plastic, different types of plastic must not be mixed. In addition, the wrong materials in the packaging can prevent recycling.
Palpa does not pay a deposit for plastic bottles that are not part of the return system.
Non-deposit plastic bottles can be recycled by returning them to a plastic collection point or as an energy fraction.
Impurities prevent recycling
Returns must not contain rubbish or other impurities as they will prevent recycling.
If the return is made in violation of the instructions, Palpa is entitled to sanction the return location for noncompliance with the instructions. The beverage supplier has the right to refuse to accept packaged transport units in violation of the instructions.
Remember to follow Palpa's sorting and return instructions in all returns.
Emptying service for glass bottles
28.04.2021
Return instructions for emptying service
The emptying service instructions have been updated in early 2021 and can be found here:
- Instruction for returns with reverse vending machine
- Instruction for returns without reverse vending machine
See also instruction video for emptying service.
All instructions related to returns can be found in the material bank of our website.
Glass container emptying rhythm
At the emptying service, the glass containers are emptied at the
return location in the agreed emptying rhythm. The current emptying rhythm and driving date can be checked in the emptying service section of Palpa Extranet service.
If you do not have a username for the Extranet service, you can order them at [email protected].
If you need to change driving days or emptying rhythm, you can contact your service provider directly. Contact information can be found in the emptying service section of the Extranet service.
Sorting of beverage packages
The appropriate sorting of beverage packages ensures that the recyclable material remains so clean that new food packages can be made of it.
Sort only bottles of glass into a glass container. Return glass bottles intact and empty. Drink residues from glass bottles contaminate the glass container and cause for example fly problems in the summertime.
NOTE! It is not allowed to put cans, plastic bottles, ceramic bottles, porcelain, garbage or other glass material (drinking glasses) into a container.
Impurities prevent the glass material from being recycled
Returns must not contain garbage or other impurities as they will prevent recycling.
If the return does not comply with Palpa's instructions, the driver has the right not to empty the container. The return location is responsible for emptying a container that has not been emptied due to impurities into mixed waste at its own expense if it is not possible to remove the impurities from the glass container.
Please remember to follow Palpa's sorting and return instructions in all your returns.
Sorting instruction
Customer satisfaction survey for emptying service for glass bottles 2020
The customer satisfaction survey was conducted during September-October 2020 for the retail and Horeca return locations involved in the emptying service. The questionnaire was sent to a total of 1999 return locations and 296 responses were received. We thank all respondents for their good feedback.
The recommendation percentage for Palpa's glass bottle emptying service was 74%.
Retail and Horeca: Expanding the deposit-refund system
20.12.2018
In addition to the customs tariff item 22 subject to the beverage container tax, Palpa is expanding the deposit-refund system to apply to fruit and vegetable juices as well as juice and beverage concentrates and glögg concentrates.
Accepted containers will include the Palpa return system’s current container types of aluminium cans, PET plastic bottles and glass bottles. Products of the product groups may be recognized as being subject to a deposit the same as the beverage containers that are already part of a deposit-refund system.
Registration of items included in the new product groups commences on 20 December 2018. Palpa will approve new products for the deposit-refund system on the 15th of each month (or on the last weekday preceding the 15th). Products may be sold subject to a deposit after they have been approved for the deposit-refund system.
Products in the new product groups will gradually become subject to a deposit, according to each beverage manufacturer’s or importer’s own schedule.
Recognizing a product as being subject to a deposit
With cans and plastic bottles, the containers subject to a deposit can be recognized based on the deposit marking on their labels.
Glass containers registered using a national barcode (the product is only sold in Finland using the barcode in question) also feature a deposit marking on their labels.
Glass containers registered using an international barcode (the product is sold globally using the barcode in question) do not have a deposit marking on their labels. In this case, a product may be recognized as being subject to a deposit based on a marking on the shelf or on the receipt for purchase.
Whether containers are subject to a deposit may also be checked using the Palpa online tool.
Sorting containers into transport units
Containers for the new product groups are sorted into transport units the same as the containers subject to a deposit that are already part of the deposit-refund system.
Updates to return system rules
29.01.2016
Palpa has prepared updates to return system rules during 2015. The return systems have each started during different decades, and thus updates and harmonizations were considered necessary.
The updated rules are effective from 1 February 2016.
The updated rules are better suited to today’s return system operations. The updates do not cause any major changes in normal operations and no changes in the operational instructions are made.
Issues in rules have been reorganized and presented according to operational chronology, and similar features in the systems have been harmonized in the texts. Many definitions have been specified, new definitions have been added and some terms have been renamed. For example, a Deposit Payer is now called a Member.
Issues belonging to the operational instructions for the return system or official regulations have been removed from the rules. In these cases, the rules refer to instructions available at our website or to official regulations.
We invite you to read our new rules in the Material bank on our website.
More information: managing director Pasi Nurminen, +358-9-8689 8665.