100th deposit bulk machine in the Netherlands opened in Zoetermeer

The bulk machine is located in the parking lot of De Bouwhof at Edisonstraat 115 in Zoetermeer. Both store visitors and local residents from across the region can use it. Visitors can choose to receive payment via Tikkie or donate to the Sophia Children's Hospital.Official request Bulk machines become a household name Since the opening of the very first deposit bulk machine in March 2024 at Bungas in Bunschoten-Spakenburg, return machines have been opened throughout the country that can process more than 100 deposit bottles and cans at a time. The goal for 2026 is to add 200 more bulk machines throughout the country. This will make it increasingly easier for consumers to return deposit packaging and reduce the pressure on existing return points.

"In less than two years, bulk machines have become a household name," says Jeroen Hillen, director of Statiegeld Nederland, part of Verpact. "We see that people are increasingly finding their way to these locations and consciously choosing them, precisely because they can quickly dispose of large quantities. At Verpact, we know that we need to make waste collection easy, and that also applies to deposits. The easier it is for consumers to return their deposit packaging, the more often they will do so. As a result, more and more deposit packaging is finding its way back into the recycling chain, where it is reprocessed into raw materials."

Practical provision

Alderman Bouke Velzen (Waste and Sustainability): "With this first bulk machine in Zoetermeer, we are making it easier and clearer to return deposit bottles. The fact that this machine is also the 100th in the Netherlands makes it a special moment, but above all, it is a practical facility for residents." Jan-Bart Huurman, managing director of De Bouwhof, is also proud: "De Bouwhof is well on its way to becoming a one-stop shop. The place that no Zoetermeer resident should miss."

Jeroen Hillen concludes: "With the installation of this 100th deposit bulk machine, we have reached an important milestone. We are constantly looking for new locations and continuing to collaborate with municipalities and entrepreneurs. There are certainly more milestones to come!"