By Christopher E. Martin
The most efficient way to change consumer behavior is through either economic pain or reward. Consumers respond to incentives, store reward programs, penalties for not returning items on time, etc. Many countries have deposit requirements for bottle and can purchases. A deposit is required up front and refunded or credited when the bottle or can is returned for the purchase of another. These programs have existed for over 50 years and need to be adopted by Tunisia.
If at the time of purchase, a one dinar deposit was required for all bottles, beer bottles, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, any liquid container and credited back upon its return, NONE would be discarded in the street. The consumer pays a one dinar deposit on purchase and is credited or refunded upon the return of the bottle or can. The program pays for itself and has a zero net cost to the consumer. The state saves on trash collection and the streets are cleaner. These programs exist and have existed for years in many countries. Tunisia only needs to copy the successful programs. How easy is this?
Carlsberg breweries uses a standard size bottle which can be recycled and reused up to 22 times which many European countries have adopted. Tunisia adopts this European model and the bottlers save money, the streets are cleaner and the everyone is happier. No study is needed, just adopt the practice already in place. BTW, this kind of practice is available for all trash collection, recycling, waste to energy and many other technologies already in place. These technologies are constantly offered to Tunisia, however, the government finds a way to stall or kill the projects.
Come on Tunisia, just adopt what the rest of the world is already doing!
