Zálohový systém PET lahví a plechovek v České republice: Analýza s využitím metod CBA a LCA

This thesis evaluates the economic and environmental impacts of implementing a Deposit Return System (DRS) for PET bottles and aluminum cans in the Czech Republic. The main objective is to assess whether DRS represents a suitable alternative to the current Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, using Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The analysis is based on a model scenario assuming the system’s implementation in 2028 and considers key stakeholders, including producers, retailers, municipalities, the system operator, and society as a whole. The economic assessment quantifies investment and operational costs, including infrastructure, logistics, and reverse vending machines, and compares them with system revenues, particularly from material sales and unredeemed deposits. The environmental assessment is based on the interpretation of an existing LCA study and evaluates impacts in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and recyclate quality. The results indicate that DRS can improve recycling quality and support material circularity, with the most significant benefits observed for aluminum cans. For PET bottles, environmental gains are less pronounced due to the already high collection rates in the Czech Republic. At the same time, the economic analysis highlights the high cost intensity of the system and the uneven distribution of impacts across stakeholders, including potential negative effects on municipalities and increased burdens for retailers. The thesis concludes that the implementation of DRS in the Czech context does not represent a universally efficient solution, and its overall effectiveness depends strongly on system design. Alternative or complementary measures may, in some cases, offer more cost-effective pathways to achieving environmental objectives.