Over 82 million forints have already been raised through Hungary’s bottle return donation programme, said György Bacsa, Managing Director of MOL Hungary, at a press conference in Budapest on Wednesday. Until the end of December, anyone returning bottles at REpont machines can opt to donate their refund to support underprivileged families and children.
The initiative is part of the ‘Mosolyra váltó’ (Turning Bottles into Smiles) programme launched by MOHU MOL Waste Management in July. Donations will go toward the child welfare programmes of the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service, the Hungarian Interchurch Aid, and the Hungarian Red Cross. Last year’s programme supported children’s medical initiatives.
According to Bacsa, bottle returns can be made at 5,100 REpont machines across the country, each offering the option to donate. While charitable contributions currently account for less than 5 per cent of all returns, the total collected amount has already reached an impressive 82 million forints.
He emphasized that MOL’s waste management concession is Hungary’s largest environmental and awareness-raising programme, contributing both to sustainability and economic stability. ‘Waste has value, it can be reused as material or energy,’ Bacsa said, noting that recycling rates have risen to 34 per cent, while landfill use has dropped below 50 per cent, with a long-term goal of reducing it to under 10 per cent.
‘We need to strengthen this mindset among people: don’t throw bottles away, return them for cash, coupons, or a smile,’ he added.
Péter Szabadhegy, President of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, explained that their share of donations will fund playground and family shelter improvements. The organization operates 15 playgrounds—seven in Budapest—where social workers organize programmes for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Their temporary shelters offer families in crisis up to a year to rebuild their lives.
‘Every bottle counts. Even a small gesture can make a big difference for families in need’
Szabadhegy also reminded that Wednesday marked Social Work Day in Hungary, acknowledging the 100,000 social workers across the country, including 5,000 employed by the Order of Malta. ‘They do their job so well that we often don’t see them—but they deserve our gratitude,’ he said.
Managing Director of Hungarian Interchurch Aid Kristóf Gáncs praised the donation programme as an innovative way to make giving part of everyday life. ‘A bottle is not waste—it’s value and opportunity,’ he said. The funds will support their ‘Kapaszkodó’ programme, which works daily with nearly 4,000 children across Hungary, helping them overcome poverty-related disadvantages through free educational activities and community support.
Director General of the Hungarian Red Cross István Kardos also highlighted the importance of simple ways to help. ‘In the past four years, we’ve been able to send about 2,000 children to summer camps each year, but this number has dropped due to funding shortages. Thanks to these donations, we’ll be able to give more children this experience next year,’ he said.
MOHU ambassador and television host Attila Till encouraged everyone to use the donation option when returning bottles. ‘Every bottle counts. Even a small gesture can make a big difference for families in need,’ he emphasized.
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