Skip to content

You are using an outdated browser

Internet Explorer is not supported by this site and Microsfot has stopped releasing updates, therefore you may encounter issues whilst visiting this site and we strongly recommend that you upgrade your browser for modern web functionality, a better user experience and improved security.

Upgrade my browser

In Rome You can Pay Bus & metro tickets by recycling plastic bottles

Source: WantedInRome/IlMessaggero

Commuters in Rome who recycle plastic bottles at metro stations can accumulate credits for the purchase of bus and metro tickets through apps on their phones.

Rome Trials Recycling Plastic Bottles in Exchange for Transit Cash

The experimental ecobonus system — whereby commuters in Rome who recycle plastic bottles at metro stations can accumulate credits for the purchase of bus and metro tickets through the MyCicero and TabNet apps. — will be in place for one year at three metro stations: Cipro on the A line, Piramide on the B line, and S. Giovanni on the C line.

For each plastic bottle recycled, commuters will receive a credit of five cents, meaning if they recycle 30 bottles they receive a free €1.50 ticket.

Hailing the new system, Rome’s mayor Virginia Raggi said the capital was the first city in Italy, and among the first in Europe, to promote the environmentally-friendly initiative. 

Source: WantedInRome.com

Holiday tip: a FREE metro trip in Rome! Just save 30 bottles from ending up as litter and your metro trip is free! @thelocalitaly #reducerecyclerefresh #reducewaste #reduceplasticwaste #recyclerenkunjeincentiveren
Instagram user Sustainabibi posted: Holiday tip: a FREE metro trip in Rome! Just save 30 bottles from ending up as litter and your metro trip is free! @thelocalitaly #reducerecyclerefresh #reducewaste #reduceplasticwaste #recyclerenkunjeincentiveren Source: Instagram/Sustainabibi

Rome: transit cash for plastic trash

The city of Rome unveiled three test machines Tuesday around metro stations where passengers can drop plastic water bottles, receiving five cents apiece through a scan on their phones.

According to Rome’s transportation authority ATAC, the money goes to passengers’ accounts in partner apps MyCicero or Tabnet, which can be redeemed for public transportation.

ATAC President Paolo Simioni said on Wednesday that "in a period in which cryptocurrency is talked about, we have plastic currency. Substantially, it’s a system in which one recycles, we build customer loyalty and citizens’ virtuous behaviour is rewarded."

Source: NewYorkTimes/AP

On a short-term basis, having more deposit return schemes in Europe would benefit the circular economy and recycling in Europe. Nonetheless, producing single-use products to recycle them has a high environmental cost, and the trend should go towards prevention and reuse instead.
Prevention and reuse is better than recycling On a short-term basis, having more deposit return schemes in Europe would benefit the circular economy and recycling in Europe. Nonetheless, producing single-use products to recycle them has a high environmental cost, and the trend should go towards prevention and reuse instead. Source: Unsplash/PawełCzerwiński

Deposit return schemes elsewhere in Europe

Deposit return schemes (DRS)ensure that single-use plastic bottles are collected, instead of being discarded. Therefore, DRS can significantly contribute to the implementation of the upcoming EU single-use plastic directive. Additionally, DRS bring in fiscal and economic benefits that complement the environmental one. For example, producers can lower their production cost by using recycled materials, which is cheaper than extracting and processing new ones.

In Europe, until now, 10 countries have already implemented deposit return schemes: 

  • Croatia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • Germany
  • Iceland
  • Lithuania
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • and Sweden. 

All of which have achieved significant results. The least successful country is Estonia, with an 82.7% total return rate – including can, PET and glass – which is already higher than many countries in Europe.

The most successful example in Europe is Norway, with an impressive 97% recycling rate for plastic bottles. 

Germany also has very high results, as it has the highest population and a broad DRS scope, targeting glass, plastic (mostly PET) and metal (aluminium) with 98.4% total return rate. The system was implemented by the ministry of environment in 2003 with a €0.25 fee per item, whether it is glass, metal or plastic.

Source: GovernmentEuropa.eu

Make an Impact

9 REASONS REASONS TO REFUSE SINGLE-USE PLASTIC + 9 TIPS FOR LIVING WITH LESS OF IT

Single use plastic is everywhere. In a matter of decades we have become addicted to the convenience of single use plastic. But we cannot escape the consequences of throwing away vast quantities of a material that takes hundreds of years to break down. Here are 9 reason why we should refuse it, and 9 ways to be less reliant on it.