Belgian Newspaper “Le Soir” was able to get a copy of a contract / convention signed between the industry and the Walloon Government in 2016.
On the industry side we have trade bodies: Fevia (food industry) and Comeos (Retail).
Here are a few consequences of the convention:
An NGO called Be Wapp was created to organise waste collection activities (by regular citizens)
Industry agrees to fund waste collection activities for an amount of € 3.9 million.
In return, the Walloon Government agrees not to install deposits return schemes on bottles and cans for a period of 6 years (ending in 2022)
Where did the money go?
Did the industry also signed a secret deal with the Flemish Government?
More to follow.
Extract of the Newspaper Article
Refs
Le grand nettoyage en Wallonie, l’arme anti-consigne
Breaking news! De Belgische krant @LeSoir onthult vandaag hoe de industrie in 2016 de Waalse regering dwong om de invoering van #statiegeld #consigne op blikjes en plastic flessen met zes jaar uit te stellen https://t.co/E1eG0NBg4t
— Recycling Netwerk (@RecyclingNet) September 23, 2021
Breaking news! L’arme anti-consigne révélée dans @LeSoir: Comment Comeos et Fevia ont forcé le gouvernement wallon en 2016 à reporter la consigne sur les canettes et bouteilles durant 6 anshttps://t.co/3nfxnyOdAn #consigne #statiegeld #Wallonie @ParlWallonie pic.twitter.com/lEsBMBCh2u
— L’Alliance pour la Consigne (@allez_consigne) September 23, 2021