In the Netherlands, producer responsibility (in Dutch: producentenverantwoordelijkheid) is in place for 5 products:
To whom does producer responsibility apply?
Producer responsibility applies to producers or importers who put a product (in the 5 categories mentioned) on the Dutch market. They have to set up a logistic waste management system, as well as organise its financing. This is a matter of chain responsibility: other links in the chain, for instance municipalities and retailers, have their own responsibilities in this process.
How do I meet the requirements?
Producers or importers can set up an intake and processing structure individually or collectively. In some cases, joining a collective organisation is mandatory.
Notification or registration
A company that has producer responsibility for batteries or accumulators, scrap vehicles or car tyres, has to notify Rijkswaterstaat (the department of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management that executes national waste management policies) on a yearly basis. Producers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment have to register with the National (W)EEE Register (individually or collectively). Processing parties of electronic equipment must also register. After registration, a yearly report of the previous year’s results has to be submitted to Rijkswaterstaat.
Generally binding agreement declaration
Producers and importers who import a product or put it on the market can ask the minister to declare the agreement on the waste management contribution generally binding. This is called a Generally binding agreement declaration, Dutch abbreviation Avv. There are Avvs for products that also come with legal producer responsibility:
- Packaging
- Lighting
- Car tyres
- Portable batteries
And there are Avvs for which there is no legal producer responsibility in place:
- Paper and cardboard
- Sheet glass
Extended producer responsibility
There are plans to extend the requirements for existing products to which producer responsibility applies, as well as to broaden the range of products to which producer responsibility applies. Rijkswaterstaat has devised a concept plan, but it is not yet known when this will be finalised.
Questions?
Rijkswaterstaat has a Waste Information Desk that can help you if you have questions about producer responsibility.