Towards Osaka Blue Ocean Vision - G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter

The Netherlands

Actions and Progress on Marine Plastic Litter
Last Update : 2025/10/20

Policy Framework

National Action Plan

Name(Year):
(Plastic) litter in the sea is a growing problem with negative consequences for the marine ecosystem, while also involving social, safety, economic and possibly human health issues. The Netherlands is dedicated to achieve the marine litter policy goals of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Directive 2008/56/EC) which states: “properties and quantities of marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment”.

In the reduction of litter, the Netherlands focuses on prevention through an integrated source approach, awareness and closing product chains. The Dutch efforts for addressing marine litter take place in different contexts: on a local, national, regional and global level and includes i.e.:

Brief Description:
National, European and OSPAR Level
In 2015, the Netherlands adopted the National Programme of Measures, as part of the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Based on top 10 beach litter items and taking into account existing waste management measures, three so-called Green Deals were adopted to tackle litter from beach-recreation, shipping and fishing. In these Green Deals actions and obligations for government authorities, entrepreneurs, civil society organisations and private individuals are brought together. In addition, attention was given to education programs, awareness-raising, specific plastic items like balloons and microplastics in cosmetics and measures to deal with riverine litter (Clean Rivers Initiatives).

The second MSFD Programme of Measures was adopted in March 2022. The program contains measures necessary to achieve the environmental targets set for the Dutch part of the North Sea, including measure combating marine- and river litter. In addition, the document contains a knowledge agenda.

The Netherlands is complying with EU legislation contributing to reducing marine litter, such as the EU Single Use Plastics and Fishing Gear Directive and the EU Port Reception Facilities directive. We support EU ambitions to combat and prevent marine litter such as the European Zero Pollution Action Plan. This plan is focused on the reduction of air, water and soil pollution to levels that are no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystems and that respect the boundaries our planet can cope with, thus creating a toxic-free environment.

The Netherlands is a dedicated contracting party of the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic and is closely involved in the execution of the 2nd OSPAR Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (2022-2030) that was updated and adopted in June 2022. The OSPAR strategic marine litter objective is to “prevent inputs of and significantly reduce marine litter, including microplastics, in the marine environment to reach levels that do not cause adverse impacts to the marine and coastal environment with the ultimate aim of eliminating inputs of litter. In June 2024, OSPAR adopted an ambitious beach litter target which commits OSPAR countries to a 70% reduction in the prevalence of all marine litter on beaches by 2030. This complements the existing OSPAR target on single-use plastics (SUP) and maritime-related plastic items of a 50% reduction by 2025 and 75% by 2030.

Microplastics
The Netherlands is concerned about microplastics pollution. Microplastics do not belong in the environment and are harmful for ecosystems. In addition, there is increasing evidence that microplastics can be harmful to human health as well. The urgency to address microplastics pollution is therefore becoming increasingly apparent. In 2019 the Netherlands has initiated a policy program focused on tackling microplastics. The Netherlands embraces the EU Commission’s ambition to reduce emissions of microplastics in the environment by 30% in 2030 (a target set in the Zero Pollution Action Plan). The Netherlands is advocating for ambitious measures to tackle microplastics pollution, focusing on:

  • Bridging the data gap: it is important to have uniform measuring methods in place for measuring the volume of microplastics in the environment, taking into account compartments such as water, soil and air, and for identifying the main sources.
  • Harmonization of measuring and data analysis methods is needed for introducing EU monitoring mechanisms and for enforcement mechanisms.
  • Binding measures to prevent and reduce microplastics in the environment, for example:
    • Banning deliberate additions of microplastics in products at the European level;
    • Tackling the emissions of microplastics as a consequence of the breakdown of plastic litter;
    • Implementation of monitoring programs for microplastics in the environment;
    • Cutting down on emissions of microplastics as the result of wear and tear on products such as car tyres, paint and clothing.
    • Ambitious EU microplastics legislation, e.g. the Netherlands has been advocating an ambitious EU plastics pellet regulation (EU political agreement has been reached). In addition the Netherlands calls also upon the Commission to develop legislation to address the other important sources of microplastics, e.g. textiles, paints and tyres.

National Circular Economy Programme
By 2050, the Netherlands aspires to have a fully circular economy. This means that the environmental effects of the use of raw materials for Dutch production and consumption are within ‘planetary boundaries’. The aim is to close the loop for plastics by using them more intelligently and efficiently and by utilizing more high-quality secondary raw materials and biomass. The overall aim is creating a fully circular plastics value chain by 2050.

The vision of programme is that in 2050 fewer plastics will be used with positive effects for the environment. In addition, plastics will no longer be made from fossil raw materials, but rather from sustainable carbon: recycled raw materials, supplemented with secondary and sustainable bio-based raw materials and – over time – from carbon-based raw materials. Unnecessary material use will be a thing of the past. Microplastics which are intentionally added to products will no longer exist. Emissions of microplastics (secondary or otherwise) into the environment will have been reduced by at least 70%, moreover.

International Level
In addition, the Netherlands is dedicated to contribute to the UN SDG goals – in relation to reducing marine plastic litter - especially SDG 14 – Life Below Water. In February 2022, at the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), a historic resolution (5/14) was adopted to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. The Netherlands is committed to contribute to the development of an ambitious international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment with the ambition to complete the negotiations as soon as possible.

Overall, the Netherlands remains committed to achieving UN SDG12 goal to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

At IMO level, the Netherlands supports the IMO strategy to address marine plastic litter from ships to reduce marine plastic litter generated from, and retrieved by, fishing vessels; reduce shipping's contribution to marine plastic litter; and improve the effectiveness of port reception and facilities and treatment in reducing marine plastic litter. This strategy is focused to "strengthen the international framework and compliance with the relevant IMO instruments, endeavoring to achieve zero plastic waste discharges to sea from ships by 2025. Therein, the Netherlands is actively sharing information with regards to the sources and pathways of marine litter, especially loss of parts of fishing gear.

Legal Framework

Name(Year):

  1. European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Directive 2008/56/EC) – adopted in the Dutch Water Act.
  2. The general aim of the Dutch legislative framework regulating packaging and plastic waste is to protect the public interest and environment. There are several laws and decrees that regulate packaging and plastic waste which include:
    1. Environmental Management Act (last revised in 2024) – general NL environmental regulation.
    2. EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (Directive 94/62/EC), from August 2026 the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation will enter into force.
    3. EU Directive on the Reduction of the Impact of Certain Plastic Products on the Environment (Directive 2019/904).
    4. A New EU Regulation on Preventing Plastic Pellet Losses, currently in the translation phase (political agreement has been reached).
    5. Implemented in the Dutch Packaging Decree (last revised in 2021), both new recycling and reuse targets and the new deposit system for plastic bottles and beverage cans.
    6. Implemented in the Dutch Single Use Plastics Decree (2021)

    3. Brief Description:
    Ad 1. The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD1) requires member states to develop a strategy for their marine waters to achieve a good environmental status by 2020 and to take the necessary measures to actually achieve or maintain that good status. Marine litter is one of the 11 descriptors for which the good status should be achieved.

    Indicators and/or Targets

    ■ Plastic Recycling:
    Indicators:
    In 2023 of all plastic packaging put on the Dutch market 49% was recycled. 74% of plastic drink bottles were collected.
     
    Targets (if any):
    50% recycling of plastic packaging waste, collection target of 90% for plastic drink bottles

    ■ Plastic Use Reduction:
    Indicators:
    Use of plastic cups and food containers
     
    Targets (if any):
    40% reduction in the use of single use plastic cups and food containers in 2026, compared to 2022 levels (national goal to implement EU SUP Directive).

    ■ Plastic to Alternatives, Such as Glass, Paper or Bioplastics:
    Indicators: not monitored

    ■ Plastic Leakage:
    Indicators: See others below

    ■ Beach Cleanup:
    Indicators: Amount of beach litter on Dutch North Sea coast
    Targets (if any): 20 items per 100m beach

    ■ Others (Please specify) Marine Litter

    The regional sea convention for the North-East Atlantic, OSPAR, has developed several common indicators to monitor marine litter: In addition, the Netherlands has cooperated in the development of the updated EU monitoring guidelines and EU beach litter assessments (see website MSFD Technical Group on Marine Litter: MSFD Technical Group on Marine Litter (europa.eu) ).

    • Litter in environment: beach
      • Indicator: Abundance, Composition and Trends of Beach Litter
      • Target: 20 items per 100m
    • Litter in environment: seafloor
      • Indicator: Composition and Spatial Distribution of Litter on the Seafloor
      • Target: under development
    • Litter in environment: water column
      • Indicators: Plastic Particles in Fulmar Stomachs in the North Sea
      • Target: less than 10% of fulmars exceeding a level of 0,1 gram of plastic in their stomachs
    • Micro-litter in the environment
      • Indicator: under development
      • Monitoring of meso plastics and pellets has started

     
    Brief Description:
    Reference to more information on the Marine litter indicators:

    Technical Standards, Guidelines and Methodologies

    Brief Description:
    The EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, under which circular design requirements for a wide range of products can be set, allows e.g. for regulating microplastic release. Other examples of potential performance requirements are reparability, reusability, energy, water and resource efficiency. The Regulation aims for greening products and making them more circular by connecting the entire value chain, from mining to waste phase. The Digital Product Passport, in which important product information will be available, should provide all value chain actors with relevant information on product aspects. The Ecodesign Framework enables the European Commission to set a performance requirement on microplastic release and a related information requirement for specific product groups. The European Commission has adopted the 2025-2030 working plan for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Energy Labelling Regulation in April 2025. (more information: Commission rolls out plan to boost circular and efficient products in the EU)

    The plan provides a list of products that should be prioritised to introduce ecodesign requirements and energy labelling over the next five years. This will foster sustainable, repairable, circular and energy efficient products across Europe, in line with the Clean Industrial Deal and the Competitiveness Compass. The priority products for ecodesign and energy labelling requirements are steel and aluminium, textiles (with a focus on apparel), furniture, tyres and mattresses. These were selected based on their potential to deliver on the circular economy. Harmonised product sustainability requirements at EU level will reinforce the single market, prevent barriers to trade, improve the level playing field, reduce the administrative burden, and strengthen the global competitiveness of businesses offering sustainable products.

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Measures

Measures across Value Chain
Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design (example: improved durability, reparability, recyclability, reduction of material use per product…etc.) Yes

Specific Measures:
Circular design is one of the national priorities as identified in the National Circular Economy Programme (2023-2030). At the EU level, the Netherlands has successfully advocated for an ambitious Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. Also The Netherlands is actively involved in the process of setting product specific Ecodesign requirements. The Netherlands sees the Ecodesign legislation as one of the main tools for implementing circular product design whilst maintaining the competitiveness of European producers. In our approach for circular design, we specifically focus on extending product lifetime, making products reparable and reusable and ensuring that products can be processed more effectively in the waste stage.
 
The Netherlands has identified specific product groups which include electric and electronic equipment, textiles and furniture. For these product groups, we deem circular design requirements necessary to make them more circular. For textiles and furniture, we see the need to set circular design requirements under the Ecodesign framework to curb microplastic release. We do not solely focus on the implementation of circular design legislation, but we also incentivize circular product design by organizing webinars for relevant stakeholders and by supporting organisations such as Circonnect, which supports businesses to implement a circular business model. On top of that, the Netherlands aims to integrate circular design in several adjacent government strategies, such as our national approach for sustainable behavior, greening the labor market and facilitating circular economy education.

Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives, recycled materials at production stage. Yes

Brief Description:
The EU Directive Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation 2025/40 (PPWR) entered into force on 11 February 2025 and its general date of application is 18 months after that. The Directive includes i.e.:

  • Restrictions on certain single-use plastics, such as pre-packed fruit and veg weighing less than 1.5 kg and individual portions of condiments, sauces, and sugar in hotels, bars and restaurants.
  • Minimising the weight and volume of packaging and avoiding unnecessary packaging.
  • 2030 and 2040 targets for a minimum percentage of recycled content in packaging (i.e. to 65% for single use plastic bottles by 2040)
  • A requirement for take-away businesses to offer customers the option to bring their own containers at no extra cost.
  • Minimising substances of concern, including restrictions on packaging containing per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) if they exceed certain thresholds.
Steps taken towards restricting microplastics in products. Yes

Brief Description:
In September 2023 the European Commission adopted measures that restrict microplastics intentionally added to products under the EU chemical legislation REACH. This came into effect in October 2023 with a ban on products with microbeads for scrubbing or exfoliating, and include bans on rinse-off beauty products, products that use microplastics to add fragrance, beauty products that remain on your skin or hair, and microplastics in make-up, lip and nail products which will come into effect at a later date.
 
■ Others (Glitters, Laundry and Cleaning Products, Agricultural purposes)
 
Brief Description:
Also included in the REACH legislation from September 2023 are bans on loose glitter and loose plastic granules, microplastics in laundry detergent and cleaning products, microplastics for use in agriculture and horticulture, microplastics in fertilizer products, microplastics in crop protection products, and plastic granules for use in plastic sports fields and floors. These will all come into effect between October 2023 and October 2035.

Reduce single-use plastic (shopping bags, straws etc.) by regulations or voluntary measures (such as ban, levy, others) Yes

■ Regulatory Measures (ex: production ban, ban on use..etc)
Brief Description:
Since January 1 2024: ban on single use plastic cups and food containers for consumption on site. Limited exception to the ban: offering of high-quality recyclable alternatives is allowed, provided that the mandatory collection targets are met.

■ Economic Measures (levy, tax, subsidies…etc.)
Brief Description:
July 1 2023: for consumption to go vendors must offer a reusable alternative to single use plastic cups and containers. This can be either accepting of BYO or installing a system with reusable and returnable cups and containers.

■ Informational Measures (guideline, standards…etc.)
Brief Description:
Alongside consumption to go measure July 1 2023: campaign to raise awareness about reusables. Toolkit including English posters: https://www.afvalcirculair.nl/minder-wegwerpplastic/documenten-posters/.

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Introduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Yes
Nature of Responsibility ■ Financial Responsibility
■ Operational Responsibility
■ Individual Producer Responsibility
Modality Mandatory EPR
■ Deposit Refund System
■ Drop Off Points 		Voluntary EPR
-
Eco-Modulation
(if applicable)
 ■ Fees Modulated Based on Recyclability of Products
Performance Indicators
 ■ Recycling Rate
Brief Description
 In the Netherlands producers of packaging waste are made legally responsible for the collection, recycling and reuse of their packaging and for setting up a deposit return system. Producers are united in producer organization Verpact. Our circularity results | Verpact:
 
Report: Toelichting op het verslagleggingsformulier 2023.pdf

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Improve waste management and recycling system Yes

Specific Measures:

  • From Waste To Resources Implementation Programs for household waste and waste from offices, shops and the service sector. These implementation programs support municipalities and companies in better waste separation so that less waste needs to be incinerated and more material is collected for the circular economy.
  • Explore national standardization of waste collection
  • Subsidy scheme for encouraging recycling technology
  • Exploration of sorting obligations and certification sorting processes
Promoting plastic waste re-use, recycling and recovery opportunities Yes

Specific Measures:

  • Promotion of reuse by public private partnership building a common Roadmap on reuse and refill
  • Setting targets for recycling and mandatory use of recycled plastic materials
  • Setting standards in our national waste management plan on minimum requirements (recyclable plastics should be recycled, non-recyclable plastics should be incinerated)
  • Chemical recycling is preferred above the option of incineration of plastic waste.
  • The EU SUP Directive and the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation include targets for the implemented percentage of recycled plastic in plastic bottles and packaging.
  • Also see 3.1.1.

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Install capturing trap/filter on drainage/river Yes

Specific Measures:
The Dutch government supports municipalities and market parties in tackling litter at the source. There are various local and regional initiatives to install systems to capture litter e.g.:

  • In 2024, a system (CirCleaner) has been installed in the port area of Rotterdam to capture (plastic) litter by the municipality of Rotterdam. https://www.noria.earth/keilehaven/
  • A Great Bubble Barrier system has been installed in Harlingen with support of the local and regional government to reduce the amount of litter flowing into the Wadden Sea which is UNESCO World Heritage site.
Conduct clean-up activities in rivers/ wetlands/ beaches/ coasts/ coral reefs/ sea floor, involving local communities involving local communities Yes

Specific Measures:
Clean-up Activities in Rivers/ Involving Local Communities:

  • Joint schemes have been established along the (sub) river basin districts Meuse, Waal, Rhine, Lek, Ijssel, Scheldt, Haringvliet and ports of Rotterdam to tackle litter in rivers to work on a structural and source approach to litter (‘cleaning up’ and ‘keeping clean’).
  • Litter collection: Municipalities can ask Rijkswaterstaat (public agency, part of the Ministry, which is responsible for the design, construction, management and maintenance of the Netherlands’ primary infrastructure facilities) for assistance for cleaning up litter when maritime accidents occur and large quantities of litter wash ashore. Also there is a financial compensation scheme available to help municipalities along rivers to cover cleaning costs.

Clean-up Activities on Beaches:

  • Stakeholders and coastal municipalities are responsible for cleaning and maintaining the Dutch North Sea beaches. Non-governmental organizations and the public also organize their own clean-up campaigns. For example, the North Sea Foundation organizes an annual Beach Clean-up tour on the beaches along the entire Dutch North Sea coast.
  • Clean Beach Program: Municipalities in NL regularly clean the beaches, especially after busy beach days. The Clean Beach Program focuses on knowledge exchange, support for collaboration projects and improvement of local collaboration between municipalities and entrepreneurs. A dedicated set of measures must lead to the structural maintenance of clean beaches in the Netherlands. This includes additional monitoring, custom advice to coastal communities, municipalities and beach pavilions, and innovative beach cleaning pilots.
  • Combatting cigarette filters on beaches: To combat litter from cigarette filters, the Dutch government has developed an extensive toolbox in 2024 to ensure that people do not dispose cigarette filters into the environment. The toolbox is primarily directed at governmental area managers but has been developed in such a way that other sectors (catering industry, education, healthcare, etc.) can also make use of it. The toolbox can be found online at:
    https://schoudersonderschoon.nl/toolboxen/sigarettenfilters-gebiedsbeheerders/

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Issue-specific Measures
＜1＞ Abandoned, Lost and Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG)
Taken/to be taken National Level Action and/or Community Level Action on Clean sea initiatives including ghost net retrieval, ocean-bound plastics etc. Yes

Specific Measures:
Fishing for Litter Programme:
The Fishing For Liter programme started as a pilot in the Netherlands in 2000 and has now been expanded within Europe. Fishermen find litter in their nets as bycatch. With this programme, they can dispose this litter in the ports for free. The costs for disposal and processing of this waste are covered by financial contributions of the Dutch government and ports (collected through port charges from merchant vessels, not fishing vessels). With this programme sea-floor litter is collected, amongst others but not limited to (nylon/polyethylene) ropes, fishing nets, large metal objects, cans of paint, etc..

Fisheries for a Clean Sea Programme:
This programme is the continuation of the Green Deal Fisheries for a Clean Sea. A particular challenge still concerns awareness measures and facilitating recycling. The programme builds on the basis created with the Green Deal. Four working themes (effective waste management on board ships and in ports, recycling, awareness and education, and coordination and coherence) will work towards the aim to at least continue the reduction of waste from fisheries on beaches by 2027 compared to 2021 and to recycle more waste from fisheries. Starting point is the chain approach. The SUP Directive, in which the manufacturers are given a role in the collection, recycling and raising awareness with respect to fishing gear, is an important theme for coordination between the parties. There is also coordination with the Fishing for Litter Programme, including the elaboration in the revised Port Reception Facilities Directive.

Global Ghost Gear Initiative:
The Netherlands is member of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative which is a cross stakeholder alliance of fishing industry, private sector, NGO’s, academia and governments focused on solving the problem of lost and abandoned fishing gear worldwide.

Duik de Noordzee Schoon and Ghost Diving:
Duik de Noordzee Schoon and Ghost Diving are community level actions where divers clean up wrecks in the North Sea by removing old nets and other fishing gear from recreational and commercial fishing.

The Ocean Cleanup:
The Netherlands support The Ocean Cleanup. A formal agreement is renewed in 2024.
The agreement deals with matters such as safety of navigation, protection of the marine environment, and the rights of other users of the high seas with respect to the cleanup systems of The Ocean Cleanup.

Taken actions for preventing abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) being generated. Yes

Specific Measures:
With the implementation of the EU Common Fisheries Policy Regulations, Dutch fishermen are required to report lost fishing gear and to retrieve it when possible. Also communication between local fishermen in the coastal zone has been improved with the result that loss of gill nets is reduced. Nowadays, the loss of entire fishing gears in Dutch waters is very uncommon. The OSPAR Regional Action Plan also includes the action "Prevent, locate, retrieve and handle abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG)".

Created/creating collection/recycling mechanism for ALDFG Yes

Specific Measures:
With the implementation of EPR scheme for fishing gear which is part of the implementation of The SUP Directive, manufacturers are given a role in the collection, recycling and raising awareness. There are several recyclers already active in the Netherlands that recycle ALDFG.

＜2＞ Port Waste Reception
For waste management in ports, please provide details regarding their solid waste management practices/facilities including:
Whether there is an applicable legal framework Yes

Brief Description:
The IMO MARPOL Annex V obliges Governments to ensure the provision of adequate reception facilities at ports and terminals for the reception of garbage. MARPOL Annex V seeks to eliminate and reduce the amount of garbage being discharged into the sea from ships.
 
The European Port Reception Facility (PRF) Directive (EU) 2019/883 aims to reduce marine pollution by ensuring that waste generated by ships in EU ports is delivered to reception facilities on land. This waste includes cargo residues, garbage, oily water, and sewage. The directive requires Member States to ensure adequate reception facilities are available, capable of receiving the types and quantities of waste generated by ships using their ports.
 
Further information on the PRF: Richtlijn - 2019/883 - EN - EUR-Lex

The institution(s) responsible for (or playing a central role in, if voluntary action) managing the waste from ships? (example: port management authority, fishers' association...etc.) -

Brief Description:
EU Member States must ensure that ports have the necessary infrastructure to receive and manage the waste from ships.
Whether ports possess waste reception facilities/systems to handle solid waste from ships, the volume of waste collected and the percentage of ports with waste reception facilities? Yes

Brief Description:
The PRF Directive creates a framework for ensuring that ships using EU ports are held responsible for managing their waste, and that ports are equipped to receive and handle that waste in an environmentally sound manner.
 
Volume of Waste Collected:
Individual ports have varying waste collection volumes. No recent volumes of waste collected at this moment.
 
Percentage of Ports with Waste Reception Facilities: 100%

The handling procedures for each distinct waste stream once onshore. Yes

Brief Description:
Each port has its own handling plan and procedures. An example is the harbor of Rotterdam, one of the largest ports in the world. The handling plan can be found here: port-waste-reception-and-handling-plan_0.pdf

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Partnership and Innovation
Boost multi-stakeholder involvement and awareness-raising Yes

Specific Measures:
A number of initiatives have been undertaken to boost multi- stakeholders involvement and awareness raising e.g.:

  • The development of marine awareness courses for fisheries – “Fishing with a Future” and maritime academies and shipping companies – “Marine Awareness”.
  • “Waste at School” Programme. Co-funded by the European Maritime Fund
    and Fisheries (EMFF) 140 schools (primary and secondary education) are assisted in waste education, waste separation and waste prevention. A number of knowledge products and tools have also been developed
    (www.slimmetschoolafval.nl).
  • For communication and knowledge sharing with the target groups (nature & environmental education centers, municipalities, collectors and schools) a project page (www.afvalopschool.nl ) have been set up.
  • With funds from the Packaging Waste Fund, there are still a few carried out smaller educational projects. The focus was on sharing knowledge about waste separation and on a tailor-made approach by municipalities.
  • Communication initiatives to promote good waste disposal habits in consumers. E.g. national campaign “Natuurlijk raap je ook iets op” – “Of course you also pick something up”.
  • Development of platform of organizations that work on reducing waste on the street and a clean Netherlands through communication activities: https://schoudersonderschoon.nl/
  • Organisation of a national conference on litter in 2024. Governmental area managers are the main target audience of this conference, but stakeholders like NGO’s, interest groups and private organizations are also welcome. The conference is aimed at sharing knowledge, growing networks and activating stakeholders.
Encourage/ Incentivize action by private sector companies to reduce/ sustainably manage their plastic waste. No

Specific Measures:
At this time there are no active encouragement or incentivize actions beyond the existing EPR eco-modulation. Currently the industry is mostly focused on the changes the EU Packaging and Packing Waste Regulation brings with its implementation.

Encourage public awareness on MPL issues through formal education system and/or curriculum for Yes

Specific Measures:
Several projects have been initiated to raise general awareness of sustainable consumption through the Dutch school system and specific courses in vocational training for ‘sustainable skills’ in production, construction, repair and services for the responsible (re)use of materials. See also 3.3.1.

Promote innovative solutions through Research & Development (e.g., subsidy program, investment fund etc.) Yes

Specific Measures:
In 2023, the Dutch government committed a total of 220M€ to the innovation programme Circular Plastics NL. The programme is aimed at closing the loop for plastics by creating technological breakthroughs in the fields of characterization, sorting and cleaning plastic waste, mechanical recycling and various ways of chemical recycling. The programme does not target marine litter directly, but does create incentives for companies to invest in a circular plastic economy where plastic waste becomes a valuable commodity.
 
In addition, the Dutch Research Council NWO has committed 7M€ to funding research into new types of plastics that “prevent (micro-)plastics from leaking into and contaminating the environment during plastic use”. The call for proposals is closing at
16 September 2025.

Monitoring, Data Management, Understanding Flow of Plastics/MPL
Conduct Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of plastic products. What are the challenges if LCA is not conducted? Yes

Brief Description:
LCA of plastic products are not regularly executed, only at specific moments to inform policy makers.
 
Challenges (if applicable):
It is important to standardize LCA methods so that all countries when developing regulations, use the same calculations.

Conduct Material Flow Analysis (MFA) on plastics. What are the challenges if MFA is not conducted? Yes

Scope: ■ National ■ Regional
 
Brief Description:
MFA is not applied as a national monitoring tool by the government. Plastics Europe publicizes a two yearly MFA for plastics:
https://plasticseurope.org/nl/knowledge-hub/de-circulaire-economie-voor-plastics-2022-een-europese-analyse/
 
The government has commissioned several studies to better quantity the plastic material flows and both within the national growth fund project Circular Plastics NL as well as within the government there are initiatives to further improve/structure MFA’s for plastics.

Conduct monitoring / estimation / scientific research on leakage of plastics/microplastics to the natural environment and/or flow of ocean surface.
What are the challenges if these actions are not conducted? 		Yes

Specific Measures
■ Established a Monitoring/Reporting Program/Mechanism
 
Scope: ■ National
■ Macro Plastics ■ Microplastics (<5mm)

Brief Description:

  • Monitoring program of macro- and microplastics in rivers which will run for the next two years. Including plastic pellets/nurdles- on river banks, estuaries and water surfaces.
  • The development of a reliable, effective and efficient monitoring program for macro- and microplastics in rivers.
  • The further development of monitoring programs for meso- pellets on beaches and microplastics in the sediment in the North Sea.
  • Active role in the improvement of the monitoring methods for seafloor litter.

A project has started to use Artificial Intelligence and other advanced technologies to monitor river litter. Results are expected in the coming years. In 2024-2025 a pilot will be executed with cameras at a bridge to monitor the surface on litter.

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International Collaboration
Participate in international cooperation through international organizations, multi-national groups, etc. Yes

Specific Measures:

  • International cooperation in indicator development, threshold value development, monitoring and measures in OSPAR and EU MSFD working groups.
  • In addition the Netherlands is observer of the Arctic Council and has been involved in the development of the Marine Litter Action Plan under the wing of the Arctic Council/PAME working group.
  • The Netherlands had initiated the development of a Roadmap on Finance for Circularity together with the global and regional international financial institutions, supported by knowledge partners, to include circularity in lending and investment practices worldwide. This has led to a dedicated working group of MDBs in which the International Finance Corporation has taken over the initiative. The group work together to implement the Roadmap and share knowledge and experiences within the IFI-Circularity Exchange Network, the Roadmap is based on the national frontrunners group of private financiers under the leadership of the Dutch National Bank, which is developing a likewise system of methodology with uniform definitions, metrics and risk assessments. UNEP-FI has been published a report on how governments, private finance MDBs can act (together) to unlock more finance for circular economy in the short term.
Support target region by your international cooperation initiatives/projects: South, Central and Southeast Asia Yes

Target Regions:
■ Latin America and Caribbean

Specific Measures:
Various bans on single use plastics have been implemented in the Dutch Caribbean on the islands Saba, Bonaire, St Eustatius, Curacao and Aruba. Various project have been initiated to increase awareness and behavioral change through the development and implementation of education programs and public campaigns, such as the 'Bonaire Plastic Free' Campaign which started in 2022. In 2024 a trend report was published on marine litter on the beaches of Bonaire collected in the period 2018-2023 which shows a high abundance and significant increasing trends. The main sources of marine litter on Bonaire are 1) transboundary pollution; 2) maritime (shipping and fisheries); 3) coastal recreational and tourism.
 
At the 9th Ocean Conference in 2024 the Netherlands has committed to set up a 3 year monitoring program to get a better insight of the problem of marine litter in the Caribbean, its abundance, trends and composition. The Netherlands will monitor beach litter in the Caribbean Netherlands in line with the OSPAR beach litter monitoring protocol. The results can support the further development of local measures, regional and global actions to tackle transboundary pollution.

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Challenges

■ Recycling System Improvement

Specific Challenges:
Currently the market for recycled plastics is quite challenging, as the price of virgin plastics is very low and influenced by a lot of international factors. Some Dutch plastic recycling plants are in financial difficulties because of this.
 
Getting the proper international data sets to scientifically verify and influence the chain (via policy) is a challenge. This includes the international financial data on plastics, recycled plastics and other materials.

■ Proper Waste Management System (Including Lack of Local Capacity)

Specific Challenges:
Because waste collection in the Netherlands has been delegated to municipalities, there is a lack of any form of standardization and direction on how to collect waste as effectively as possible for the circular economy.

■ Data Collection Related to Waste in General

Specific Challenges:
Collectors, sorters, recyclers and producer organizations are not always transparent about the processing of data. This is related to the lack of reporting obligations. As a result, creating data-driven policy is not always possible.

■ Data Collection Related to Marine Plastic Litter

  • Monitoring of seafloor litter remains a difficult challenge. NL currently investigates of fishing for litter data can also be used for this purpose. Video monitoring is in development but may be difficult to apply in the generally turbid Dutch marine waters.
  • Monitoring of microplastic particles is under development and methods are becoming more harmonized and improving due to the European Technical Group Marine Litter (TGML) and OSPAR guidelines and expert groups; and via international cooperation with UK and Norwegian microplastic labs.
  • Reliable sampling and analyses microplastics
  • Modeling especially pathways of marine litter

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Best Practices

■ National Level ■ International Initiative 
Description:
 
Reducing Environmental Impact of Single-Use Plastic Bottles
In 2021 the new mandatory deposit system was introduced in the Netherlands. It has been a tremendous success in reducing the environmental impact of single use plastic bottles. In just two years the number of plastic bottles found as litter in the streets and the environment reduced with 60%.
 
How does it work? Under the EPR Packaging, the packing industry is responsible for collecting 90% of the bottles after consumption of the beverage. It must be collected separate of other waste to maintain the high-quality recycling properties. To incentives consumers to bring their bottles to a collection point there is a mandatory deposit. For beverage cans smaller than three litres and plastic bottles smaller than one litre the deposit is 15 eurocents. Plastic bottles larger than one litre and smaller than three litres have mandatory deposit of 25 eurocents. This is purely for plastic bottles that contain water or soft drinks, excluding dairy and juice beverages for hygienic reasons. Besides the 90% collection target and the mandatory deposit, the packaging industry is pretty much free to organise the system in the most cost efficient way for them possible and spend money on innovations where they see fit, as long as they hit their collection target. How is the data collected? Since 2019 the data has been collected every year via bottle-counting 1400 times a year on 6 specific locations.
 
In addition, there is an active network of NGO’s, governmental organizations, research institutions, social enterprises, private citizens and companies that focus on awareness rising, research, organization of cleanup’s, knowledge sharing, effective networks and innovations to combat marine litter, examples are:

In addition, the Netherlands is home to organizations that have developed innovative catchment systems to collect waste from seas and rivers such as the Ocean Cleanup and The Great Bubble Barrier.
 
Various initiatives i.e.:

In the Dutch Caribbean:

Private sector
Initiatives to prevent pollution of plastic nurdles:

Initiatives to organize river cleanup’s:

Several prevention measurements developed by the Dutch government e.g.:

  • Guidance to river cruise companies to prevent litter in rivers
  • Guidance for plastic producers and handlers to prevent spilling of pellets/ nurdles into the environment
  • Toolbox and campaign against cigarette butts

Monitoring:

  • Method for reliable sampling and analyze microplastics in rivers 1 um - 5mm
  • Method for reliable sampling river shore and surface

Guidelines:

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Contact Details

Name: Marijke Boonstra
Position: National policy lead Marine litter
Division: Water safety, rivers and sea – Directorate General for Water and Soil Affairs
Organization: Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
Email: Marijke.boonstra@minienw.nl and dylan.bos@minienw.nl (G20 Focal point)

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