Fewer cans have been found in litter since the introduction of a deposit return scheme in the Netherlands.

That is according to figures reported by government officials in a letter from caretaker infrastructure minister Vivianne Heijnen.

The introduction of a 15 cent deposit on all cans was introduced on April 1 and figures show that since this date there was a drop of 33% of cans found in litter compared to the same period last year.

Plastic bottles are also included in the deposit return scheme and figures show that the amount found in litter has decreased by 66% since it was introduced three years ago.

Despite the fall recorded, Heijnen cautioned against drawing hard conclusions from a single set of data.