Impact of the Implementation of the Deposit Refund System on Coastal Littering in Latvia

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of the environmental impact of implementing the beverage container deposit refund system on marine and coastal litter along the Latvian coastline. It incorporates data and insights from the assessment of deposit fractions littered in coastal areas during the post-season autumn period (weeks 3–4 in October and week 1 in November) in three monitoring sessions from 2021 (before the introduction of the DRS in Latvia) to 2023 (post-introduction). In 2022, a 43% overall decrease in selected public coastal areas was observed, with significant reductions at 11 out of 17 sites. This positive trend continued in 2023, showcasing a further 22% decrease compared to 2022 and a substantial 56% decrease compared to 2021. This study delves into the specific impact on different material types of beverage containers, reporting significant decreases in plastic and aluminium litter fractions. While glass beverage container litter showed a smaller decrease, overall positive trends continued in 2023. However, the situation with aluminium cans remained challenging, especially in border areas with Lithuania and Estonia. This study emphasizes that beverage containers with identifiable deposit system labels constitute a minority of the total litter pressure, underscoring the need for ongoing efforts to address containers without deposit labels, particularly in specific border areas. The findings provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the deposit system in mitigating coastal litter, contributing to sustainable waste management practices in Latvia.