The “Donate Your Deposit” project has been running at Hamburg Airport for ten years now. Travelers can place their empty deposit bottles and cans in special collection containers before passing through security. Instead of ending up in the trash, the deposit amounts are used for a good cause and at the same time create job opportunities for people in need of support. The Hamburg street magazine “Hinz&Kunzt” uses the funds to secure four positions for formerly long-term unemployed individuals who are now permanent members of the project team at Hamburg Airport.

Together with Hamburg Airport and Hinz&Kunzt, Der Grüne Punkt has been a project partner from the outset. “The tenth anniversary of Donate Your Deposit at Hamburg Airport is a strong sign of the circular economy in action. The project combines environmental and social responsibility in an exemplary way and shows that sustainable action has a direct impact on the local community. We are very proud to have supported this commitment from the very beginning,” says Denis Völler, Managing Director of Der Grüne Punkt.

Nicole Ebach, project manager of “Donate Your Deposit” at Der Grüne Punkt: “Together with our project partners, we are driving forward a project that is truly close to our hearts: Donate Your Deposit creates sustainable jobs and opens up new perspectives. Thank you to everyone who has made this success possible.”

With over 3 million deposit bottles donated, “Donate Your Deposit” at Hamburg Airport has not only kept valuable resources in circulation, but also created real social added value.

Launched as a university project by students, Der Grüne Punkt worked with Stuttgart Airport to further develop the project and establish it in 2013. Donation containers are now located in the security check areas of eight German airports. 

Further information on the project can be found here: spende-dein-pfand.de

Image: Oliver Sorg, Hamburg Airport