Norsk Resirk's sole purpose is not profiting, but to operate an eco-friendly, cost-effective return scheme for non-refillable beverage packaging. The main goal is to collect and recycle as much as possible, thus contributing to a better environment and lowering public environmental excise taxes.
Lower taxes and prices
All manufacturers and importers of beverages in cans or non-refillable plastic bottles can enrol their products with Norsk Resirk. This allows them to benefit from the reduced excise tax rate Norsk Resirk has obtained as a result of the high returns. The excise tax decreases as the collection increases, meaning that 93 per cent collected for cans translates into a 93 per cent discount on the excise tax. This allows the products to be sold at a lower price.
Distinctive deposit symbols
Products included in the deposit system display Norsk Resirk’s distinctive deposit symbol. This symbol assures the consumers that the deposit will be refunded when the empty packaging is collected. Norsk Resirk’s easy-to-read symbol also guides store staff that handle collection manually. Every can or bottle is also marked with a bar code that can be read by reverse vending machines. This ensures an accurate overview of the percentage of sold products that are collected.
Friendly to the environment
All deposits are recycled. Aluminum cans become new soft drink and beer cans, while bottles provide raw plastic for new plastic bottles. Re-used aluminum requires 95 per cent less energy consumption than new metal, while one kilogram of re-used plastic saves two kilograms of oil. The collection process itself is also environment-friendly, since spare capacity on suppliers' trucks is used to transport the collected cans and bottles from the deposit points to regional depots. The cans and bottles are densely compacted before being shipped to recycling by train - which reduces the environmental impact even more.
Backed by trade and industry
Norsk Resirk is co-owned by organisations in trade and industry: Norwegian Association of Wholesale Grocers (33.5 %), Coop Norway (15 %), Norwegian Federation of Petrol Dealers (1.5 %), The Norwegian Brewers’ Service Office (35 %), Grocery Manufactures’ Service Office (7.5 %), Federation of Norwegian Food and Drink Industry (7.5 %).
