What factors determine attitudes towards the implementation of a packaging deposit and refund system? A qualitative study of the perception of Spanish consumers

There is a growth of social concern regarding the deterioration of the environment. This has boosted the promotion of more efficient and sustainable mechanisms to deal with waste management. In Spain, waste management authorities and related organisations have engaged in a debate about the desirability to implement a packaging Deposit and Refund System (DRS). Under a DRS, consumers have to pay a "packaging deposit" as an added price to products purchased. This deposit is refunded when consumers return the used packaging to the point of sale in perfect conditions for identification. The implementation of such a system implies an important expense of resources. Its effectiveness in increasing the recycling rates crucially depends on public involvement and participation. This paper is grounded in previous studies on attitudes towards recycling. It presents the results of qualitative research performed to capture those factors that are determinant of the expected behaviour of citizens under the proposed DRS. The results indicate that the public perception of the DRS is very sensitive to the information provided. The description of some of the distinctive features of the new system, such as the mechanism associated with the economic deposit or the procedure to return packages, ultimately result in a rather negative evaluation and a reduced predisposition to participate in the waste collection. This study contributes to the analysis of what factors determine the adoption of the DRS, which is key to its success. It indicates that, beyond first impressions, the provision of information describing its features hinders the public's perception and has the potential to modify waste recycling behaviour.