Organised crime rings in the Netherlands have built a lucrative business smuggling canned drinks that fall outside the country’s deposit return scheme. By sourcing non-deposit cans from abroad, these groups avoid the €0.25 fee added to every can sold locally, then redeem hundreds of thousands of euros in fraudulent returns.
How the scheme works
- Cross-border imports: Criminals order bulk shipments of canned beverages from countries without deposit regulations, such as Belgium and Germany.
- False labelling: Cans are rebranded or left unmarked to evade detection by reverse vending machines, which identify eligible containers via bar codes and material composition.
- Mass redemption: The illicit stock is fed into recycling machines at distribution centres, supermarkets and recycling points, generating large sums in deposit refunds.
Authorities estimate the black-market trade may involve up to 20 million cans each year, translating to more than €5 million in illegal refunds. The operation not only undercuts legitimate producers and retailers but also threatens the integrity of the recycling system designed to reduce litter and promote sustainability.
Crackdown intensifies
Over the past six months, Dutch customs and the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD) have conducted a series of coordinated raids at warehouses and border crossings. At least 15 suspects have been arrested, and over 2 million illicit cans seized. Seized goods included empty and filled containers, conveyor systems adapted for rapid deposit-machine feeding, and forged import declarations.
“This scam diverts vital revenue away from legitimate recycling initiatives,” said a spokesperson for Rijkswaterstaat. “We’re increasing surveillance and collaborating with European partners to intercept illegal consignments before they enter the supply chain.”
Industry demands tougher measures
Retailers and beverage producers are calling for stricter enforcement and greater information-sharing among EU countries. The Dutch Soft Drink Association has proposed:
- Mandatory digital tracking of all depositable containers traded across borders.
- Higher penalties for companies caught facilitating the trade in non-deposit cans.
- Harmonisation of deposit schemes within the EU to close loopholes exploited by criminal networks.
As the Netherlands prepares to review its recycling legislation later this year, policymakers face pressure to strike a balance between fostering a robust deposit system and preventing organised crime from profiting at the expense of both the environment and the public purse.
