Consumers may soon receive 20 cents for every small can and bottle they return to shops and collection points, even though the official deposit is only 15 cents, the Telegraaf reported on Friday, citing government sources.

The aim is to encourage consumers to return more cans and bottles because collection targets are still falling short.

The idea comes from environment inspectors who want to compel the industry foundation responsible for collections to increase the payout temporarily, the paper said.

Currently, around 77% of bottles and cans are being returned, but the target is 90%. This also means the foundation is holding on to around €502 million in unclaimed deposits.

The inspectorate has declined to comment on the Telegraaf report. However, Hester Klein Lankhorst of Verpact said “untruths” are being spread about the amount of money the foundation is holding.

This, the paper noted, is “notable” given that Verpact reported last year that €132 million in deposits had not been claimed, while the inspectorate had previously cited figures of €370 million.

“Research shows that consumers don’t want money — they want it to be easy,” Klein Lankhorst told the paper.

Cities such as Amsterdam, Nijmegen and Eindhoven have seen particular problems with bins being broken open and rubbish scattered in the streets, as people hunt for cans that can be exchanged for cash.

The Parool reported this week that organised gangs are now involved, assigning collectors specific routes and areas to target.

Deposits were introduced on small plastic bottles in the Netherlands in 2021, and extended to cans in 2023.