‘Pant’s down, the best May ever

Danish refundable deposit system for recycling used bottles set record last month

May wasn’t just a record month for hot and sunny weather in Denmark; it also smashed the delivery record for the refundable deposit system used to recycle used bottles known as the ‘pant system’.

Close to 16 percent more bottles were handed in last month for recycling compared to May 2017 – a total of 4 million cans and bottles were delivered every day last month.

“The Danes handed in a record number of empty bottles and cans during May. It means that more supermarkets, restaurants and such need empty bottles collected. Our collection vehicles are on the road for more hours so we can pick them all up,” said Marlene Fris, head of marketing for the collection organisation Dansk Retursystem.

READ MORE: In a historic move, Netto introduces deposit system on plastic bags

Over a billion returned
Generally, the Danes are very good at utilising the deposit system and about 90 percent of the empty cans end up being handed back in for recycling.

Last year, 1.2 billion cans and bottles were collected by Dansk Retursystem – saving nature from 114,000 tonnes of CO2.

New expansion plans
In related news, the government is set to present an expansion plan for the refundable deposit system tomorrow at around noon.

The last time the Danish deposit system was changed was in 2008 and the new system will include the chance to recycle new forms of packaging.




  • The internationals who created an app to make friends in Denmark  

    The internationals who created an app to make friends in Denmark  

    A team of young internationals has created an app that is helping their peers connect and build friendships in Denmark, addressing the challenges of social integration.

  • New documentary stirs debate in Denmark and Greenland 

    New documentary stirs debate in Denmark and Greenland 

    The documentary Greenland’s White Gold, reveals the worth of cryolite mining in Greenland to be in the billions. Over the years its value has been undermined, despite it acting like a gold mine for the Danish state. 

  • Today is 10 years from Copenhagen terrorist attack

    Today is 10 years from Copenhagen terrorist attack

    On February 14 and 15, the last terrorist attack took place in Denmark. Another episode occurred in 2022, but in that case, there was no political motive behind it

  • Enter Christiania: how the Freetown works

    Enter Christiania: how the Freetown works

    We all know Christiania and have been there at least once. But how does the Freetown work? How are decisions made? Can a person move there? Is there rent or bills to pay? British journalist Dave Wood wrote a reportage on Christiania for The Copenhagen Post.

  • The struggles of Asian women in Denmark’s labour market

    The struggles of Asian women in Denmark’s labour market

    Isha Thapa unfolds her research “An Analysis on the Inclusivity and Integration of South Asian Women in High-Skilled Jobs within the Danish Labor Market”. Thapa describes the systemic and social challenges these women face, ranging from barriers in social capital to cultural integration.

  • Parents in Denmark reject social media monitoring 

    Parents in Denmark reject social media monitoring 

    Most parents in Denmark reject using social media parental controls despite knowing about them. A new study questions the effectiveness of these tools in ensuring children’s online safety.