We collect the bottles for months, but there may still be a surprise when you redeem them

Based on experience so far, what percentage of the purchased bottles with a deposit fee do we return, or do we wait and the population collects them at home in larger batches?

In the case of international examples, it can be seen that it takes approximately two months from the release of the products until the redemption, only in the case of spirits there is a difference, where we can count on an even longer period. In the case of the domestic system, MOHU is still collecting the data, and realistic numbers will be available in the first quarter of 2025 at the earliest. However, MOHU does not have a database on the quantity of bottles sold in retail, so unfortunately we cannot provide specific figures for this.

In other words, I would like to ask about the difference between the number of bottles with a deposit fee purchased daily and the number of bottles exchanged daily, in terms of number of pieces, possibly expressed in forints.

In this case, it is important that the MOHU database does not include the data on the quantities placed on the market. However, it can already be seen that since the introduction of the mandatory beverage packaging redemption system (DRS), consumers have already exchanged sixteen million bottles and cans through REpoints by July 18 this year, and more than one million beverage packaging is currently being returned to circulation through the system every day.

What will happen to the remaining surplus, where will this money go? Could this mean a hidden price increase?

In the case of an ideally functioning chain, we cannot talk about additional costs. The essence of the circular system is exactly that the redemption fee should be in continuous circulation, similar to the packaging. All products with a mandatory redemption fee include a HUF 50 deposit fee. This amount is paid to MOHU by the manufacturer as the first step in the chain. After that, the trader buys the bottles from the manufacturer at a price increased by the redemption fee, and then sells them to the consumer at a price charged with the HUF 50 redemption fee. The deposit paid by the consumer will be reimbursed by MOHU after the redemption. The refund can be requested as a store voucher, a charitable donation or, in a unique way in the world, with an immediate bank transfer. It is the consumer’s decision whether to return the used bottles, so the deposit itself cannot be considered a price increase. If it is not returned, MOHU must use the fee paid by the manufacturers in full for the operation of the system.

Are there any foreign experiences in this regard, where are these bottles returned in the highest proportion and where is Hungary on the list based on the experience so far and where do we want to reach, at the level of which country?

Since the six-month grace period ended at the beginning of July, it is still very early for an international comparison. Internationally, a redemption rate of 60-70 percent is typical in the first year, which rises to 85-90 percent within 2-3 years on average. A very successful example is the Scandinavian and Baltic states, as well as the nearby Slovakia, which achieved a 92 percent redemption rate since its launch in January 2022. If we look at the initial numbers, Hungary is also on the right track towards reaching the set targets.

Is Mohu’s capacity currently sufficient to redeem all deposit-fee bottles purchased daily, and is there still a need to increase the existing capacity?

MOHU provides the technological conditions behind the mandatory redemption (DRS) system, the servicing of the machines and the necessary logistics through its extensive network of subcontractors. The redemption processes are supported at the operational level by our retail partners contracted as REpoints. This typically means the daily maintenance and cleaning of the machines, the replacement of full bags, on-site support for consumers, the redemption of vouchers, and other tasks for the smooth operation of the system. Parallel to the ramp-up of the system, there are also plans to increase capacities and expand the automatic stock, and we are also waiting for the connection of additional manual exchange partners.

It happened to our colleague that, due to the lack of internet, the reversing machine did not read the QR code, and there was no paper in it either. What can be done in this case?

The reversing machine reads the unique identifier from an average distance of 10 centimeters. It is worth keeping the phone’s display close to the scanner’s sensors. then slowly move it further and further away, but increasing the brightness of the display and trying several times can also help in reading the ID. It may happen that the machine cannot read the QR code because the internet network to which the machine is connected is not suitable, or the machine has not been updated. If the machine does not read anyone’s unique ID, the shop concerned must report this to the manufacturer of the machine.

In the other case, the machine indicates when the printer paper is running out. The retail unit is responsible for providing the printer paper and replacing the paper. The voucher issued by the redeeming machine can be exchanged for cash at the merchant, or its value can be deducted from the total amount of the purchase.