PET bottle collection
From the end of July, Schiphol has a separate collection system for small PET bottles. By putting your plastic bottle in one of the special bins, you are ensuring that it will be recycled to a high standard. And you’ll be donating 15 cents to Amref Flying Doctors and Made Blue. The collection bins for these bottles can be found in the terminal and various office buildings at Schiphol.
Towards a zero-waste Schiphol in 2030
As of 1 July 2021, there is a 15 cent deposit on small water and soft drink PET bottles. These bottles can be easily recognised by the new deposit logo. Schiphol is not required to collect these bottles and return the deposit on them, but we are collecting them separately nonetheless. That way, they can be recycled to a higher standard than if they were mixed with other types of plastic. This approach is in line with our ambition to be zero waste in 2030 and fully circular in 2050.
What Amref Flying Doctors and Made Blue do with the deposit
What’s more, the deposit is put towards a good cause. It goes to cooperating charities Amref Flying Doctors and Made Blue, who use it to pay for clean drinking water projects in Ethiopia. More specifically, projects involving 20 schools and the surrounding communities in vulnerable areas. Donation was chosen over restitution partly because travellers of many different nationalities come to Schiphol and it would be too complicated to (digitally) return the deposits.
From PET bottle to… PET bottle
The special collections bins are made from recycled PET and printed with sustainable ink. They are the result of a collaboration between Schiphol and our (catering) partners at the airport. HMS Host, the largest catering operator in the terminal, ensures that the bins are emptied and the bottles recycled. A recycling company turns the bottles into plastic granules, which are then turned into new PET bottles.
Money back?
If you’d prefer to get your deposit back, you can return your bottle at one of the locations indicated by Stichting Statiegeld Nederland. In general, these locations are larger supermarkets, manned petrol stations along motorways and manned public transport locations (not Schiphol Plaza).
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