'Strange story' in Hue: After drinking a bottle of water, return the bottle and receive cash

Hue City has just become the first city in Vietnam and Southeast Asia to pilot a deposit-return system for plastic bottles and cans.

The deposit-return model for plastic bottles and cans is being piloted at the University of Science (Hue University) campus - Photo: WWF Vietnam

On September 16, the University of Science ( Hue University) announced that it had just coordinated with the Project "Hue - Plastic-reducing City in Central Vietnam" (sponsored by WWF - Norway through the International Organization for Conservation of Nature in Vietnam and received by the People's Committee of Hue City) to pilot a deposit-refund system for plastic bottles and water cans on campus.

Accordingly, when purchasing bottled water in the program, consumers pay an additional 1,000 VND deposit and will receive it back when returning the bottle at the bottle return machine. In addition to the deposit, participants also receive an additional 100 VND "scrap money".

The first packaging machine was located at Hue University of Sciences, developed by Botol Vietnam Co., Ltd. The machine accepts bottles and cans outside the program, however in this case the user only receives scrap money.

It is expected that from September 20, Hue will have another shell finishing machine located at Nera Garden apartment building.

Deposit-return systems for cans and plastic bottles are already popular in more than 40 countries, with Norway achieving a 92.3% collection rate for aluminum cans and plastic bottles. Singapore will also test this model from 2026, with a deposit of 10 cents (about 2,000 VND).

According to the Norwegian Embassy, ​​plastic bottles and aluminum cans currently account for 98% of disposable beverage packaging in Vietnam, but the collection rate is only about 50%. If a deposit of 1,000 - 2,000 VND is applied, this rate could increase to 80 - 90%, helping to reduce 265,000 tons _{of CO2} per year and limit plastic waste into the ocean.

The pilot model in Hue is part of the project "Hue - Plastic-reducing City in Central Vietnam". The results from Hue will be the basis for replicating the model nationwide, aiming for an effective waste classification system and a greener consumer community.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chuyen-la-o-hue-uong-xong-chai-nuoc-tra-vo-chai-nhan-tien-mat-20250916174418343.htm