A 15-cent deposit on food and drink cans will come into force from April 1 in an attempt to cut the amount of litter and landfill waste.

The scheme is being launched on Monday in Almere, Flevoland, where the first deposit can will be ceremonially handed in at a Plus supermarket.

Raymond Gianotten of Statiegeld Nederland, which runs the deposit return scheme, expects around 2.5 billion cans a year to be handed in, raising the total amount paid in deposits to €700 million.

The government is required to ensure that 90% of cans are recycled, but an estimated 150 million end up as litter.

The scheme was due to be extended from January 1, but the launch date was postponed because of administrative difficulties.