[Bratislava, 20/02/2025] – Europe’s leading deposit return systems operators and industry stakeholders have officially launched the European Deposit Return Systems Association (EDRSA), a new association dedicated to advancing best practices, policy development, and collaboration in the field of deposit return systems (DRS) within Europe.
The EDRSA aims to foster innovation, efficiency, and environmental responsibility in DRS programs by bringing together key players from across the industry, including system operators, policymakers, recyclers, and technology providers. The association will serve as a platform for sharing expertise, advocating for effective legislation, and driving improvements in circular economy initiatives.
The 17 founding members of EDRSA are the current deposit return systems in Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden.
At the inaugural meeting, the General Assembly established the Association’s primary bodies and approved its budget. The members also reviewed the Association’s upcoming activities.
Susanne Kürschner (DRS Germany), Ciaran Foley (DRS Ireland), Kjell Olav Maldum (DRS Norway), Miks Sturitis (DRS Latvia) and Gemma Webb (DRS Romania) were elected to the Board of the Association.
Marian Ac (DRS Slovakia) was elected the President of the Association, while Monika Fiala (DRS Austria) was elected its Treasurer.
The Association also welcomed the IRL Pant, Deposit Return System from Faroe Islands among its ranks as the first associated member.
The President of the Association Marian Ac stated: ‘Our Association enters the European and global deposit return scene at a time when new EU regulations are being gradually implemented, and new national deposit return systems are being created. We want to serve as a platform in implementation of these regulations and in sharing information and knowledge about deposit return systems. From a wider perspective, we also have an ambition to contribute to shaping the future of circular economy and protecting the environment. And we extend our hand to all those having similar goals.’”
The formation of EDRSA comes at a pivotal time, as Governments and organizations worldwide increasingly recognize the role of deposit return systems in reducing waste and promoting the reuse of valuable materials. The association will focus on key priorities such as standardization, technology integration, consumer engagement, and policy advocacy.
The Association embodies the collective aspirations of its members to shape the future of Deposit Return Systems and the conditions in which they operate. It aims to embrace and respect the diversity of DRS across the European Union and worldwide, while striving to promote, adopt, and implement measures that benefit circular economy, protect the environment, and improve information and education about DRS.
The Association, supported by seven working groups focused on Communication, EU Legislation, Finance, Fraud, Operations and Logistics, Retail Technology, Technology and Change strives to protect its members’ interests by encouraging collaboration and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and information within the DRS sector. It also seeks to disseminate DRS-related knowledge within member states, across Europe, and globally, while actively engaging in public debates on DRS and aligning with other influential organizations such as major producer groups or trade associations.
Additionally, the Association strives to influence and monitor legislation and policy regarding DRS and packaging in Europe, serving as a key partner for legislative bodies to ensure that the needs of producers and the principles of a circular economy are reflected in the laws. It advocates for empowering European DRS to achieve high collection rates and create a circular material flow, with bottle-to-bottle and can-to-can recycling as primary goals.
Membership in the Association is available to DRS administrators from the European Union, EEA, and EFTA, while associated membership is open to DRS administrators from around the world.
For more information contact: info@edrsa.eu
Photo credit: TASR
