On 16 September 2025, the MCC Climate Policy Institute organized a roundtable discussion on the current state and future directions of domestic waste management. The event, entitled “Future in a Bottle”, focused on the circular economy and the new measures introduced within its framework.
The panel discussion featured Csaba Gondola, State Secretary for Circular Economy and Climate Policy at the Ministry of Energy, and Tivadar Runtág, Chief Operating Officer of MOHU MOL Waste Management Ltd. The discussion was moderated by Erik Kovács, Senior Research Fellow.
Participants emphasized that waste management, the circular economy, and climate policy are among the government’s top priorities. They discussed the specifics of the concession system, experiences with the bottle return scheme so far, and how domestic practices align with the European Union’s circular economy objectives.
It was highlighted that in Hungary, around 2,000 bottles are returned every minute, and 95% of the population actively participates in the system. This clearly demonstrates that consumers are approaching waste management with increasing environmental awareness, and companies are also becoming more engaged in sustainable operations.
The event provided an excellent opportunity to approach and better understand the challenges and opportunities of waste management from both governmental and market perspectives.
