The town of Bocholt is trialling deposit rings at several locations

The town of Bocholt is launching a pilot scheme to trial the use of deposit rings on public litter bins. The relevant works committee has commissioned the Bocholt Waste Management and Services Department to carry out the project. Over a period of one year, the system will be tested at selected locations across the town to see how it performs in everyday use.

Following previous, recurring discussions at a political level and an examination of various aspects, the town of Bocholt is now gathering concrete practical experience with the scheme. The aim of the project is to observe how the scheme is received by residents and bottle collectors, and to assess its impact on the town's appearance and cleanliness. Deposit rings make it possible to deposit empty bottles and cans so that they do not end up in general waste or have to be laboriously removed from the bins.

For the trial, five locations were initially selected in the city centre and the area surrounding the shopping arcades. These locations were deliberately chosen for their regular footfall, whilst ensuring sufficient distance from supermarkets and reverse vending machines. Particularly sensitive and heavily frequented areas, such as the vicinity of the railway station or the nightlife district on Ravardistraße, were initially excluded from the first phase in order to test the system gradually and in a controlled manner.

A design specially adapted for the waste bins in Bocholt's town centre is being used. The model is designed to hold standard bottles and cans securely in place so that they cannot fall out. Staff from the municipal waste management and townscape maintenance departments are continuously monitoring the trial. Should any undesirable side effects, such as contamination or broken glass, occur at individual locations, the sites can be flexibly adjusted or the devices removed at short notice.

At the end of the one-year trial period, the ESB will evaluate the experience gained and submit its findings to the operations committee for a decision on how to proceed in future.