Implementation of IT System for the Deposit Return Scheme in Hungary

Integration of nationwide circular economy under one roof

Customer

MOHU MOL Waste Management Zrt. (MOHU), a subsidiary of MOL Group, has been awarded a 35-year national concession starting July 1, 2023, to centralise and standardise municipal and selective waste management across Hungary, including coordination of the REpont deposit‑return system for beverage containers.

Its strategic goal is to advance Hungary’s circular economy by integrating collection of municipal solid waste, selective streams, and beverage container returns under one roof, while driving development of waste infrastructure and logistics.

Project description

Hungary introduced the Deposit Return System aiming to switch to the circular economy as soon as possible by increasing the supply of pure material streams and reducing the use of primary raw materials. The aim is to recycle 90 percent of plastic and glass bottles and metal beverage cans within three years, MOL stressed. The goal is to reduce landfills and illegal dumping and reduce the environmental burden. Consumers pay the deposit of HUF 50 (€0.13) that applies to PET & glass bottles, and aluminum cans from 1 deciliter to 3 liters. More than 2000 return points across the whole country called “REpont” are provided by reverse vending machines in groceries with a sales area of more than 400 square meters and in municipalities with more than 1,000 inhabitants.

The points of return are centralized on both the MOHU website and the upcoming REpont app. Consumers are able to choose the form of the return fee refund. The value of the returned bottles is printed by the vending machine in the form of a voucher, that can be redeemed or exchanged for cash at the store. Moreover, with the help of the barcode reader built into the machine, the app allows registered customers to identify themselves with their electronic customer code using their phones, and the return fee is automatically credited to their bank account. The return fee can also be donated to a charity by selecting the option shown on the vending machine display.

Impact

MOHU’s ambition is to reach at least 90 % return rate within three years, a threshold critical to its continued operation under forthcoming EU regulations that require non‑profit, DRS‑exclusive operators by 2029.

Reflections on the scheme

Martin Basila, CEO of Sensoneo: “Sensoneo has extensive experience in integrating IT systems for Deposit Return Schemes and remains one of the few DRS IT integrators operating across multiple European countries. We are pleased to see Hungary’s system moving from implementation to daily operation, helping to improve collection rates, support circularity, and reduce the amount of packaging waste ending up in landfills. The option for consumers to donate their deposits to charity is also a meaningful feature of the system. We are proud to have contributed to the launch and ongoing success of the Hungarian Deposit Return System.”

The software includes modules for every activity involved in the preparation, operation, and reporting. The main modules of the system are represented by the web portal for producers and retailers, the packaging register, the collection points register, the ERP (enterprise resource planning) system, the reporting system, the document management system, interfaces with other systems (RVM, counting and sorting centers), and mobile applications for both retailers and consumers. The modules reflect specific requirements and needs and completely fulfill the obligations of each stakeholder.

According to Peter Knaz, Deputy CEO at Sensoneo: “Our DRS IT solution is a perfect fit for large-scale deployment as it provides a one-stop shop platform for all stakeholders of the DRS system, fully integrated with ERP system, complex Business Intelligence and at the same time fulfilling all country-specific requirements. DRS IT system in Hungary well blends into the complex system infrastructure of MOHU and brings innovative elements for end users through the DRS mobile application that eliminates cash or voucher transactions in stores. I believe that the DRS is the right step for Hungary to increase the recollection of clean material streams and decrease waste pollution.”