Portugal has one of the lowest utilisation rates for recycled materials in the EU, at only three per cent in 2024.
Until today, when buying a bottled drink or a canned beverage in the supermarket in Portugal, the cost of the container was included in the price, as is the case in most countries.
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As of Friday 10 April, however, a deposit fee of around 10 cents is now applied to each bottle and can purchased.
This amount will be listed on receipts separately from the price of the product.
It's a similar concept to paying for a plastic bag, but with the big difference that it's a deposit, meaning you can get your money back. Here's how it works.
Portugal's plastic bottle deposit scheme
The 'Volta' programme aims to encourage consumers to recycle packaging (plastic, metal and aluminium bottles and cans) to help Portugal meet its target of collecting 90 per cent of the bottles and cans covered by the SDR (Deposit and Refund System) by 2029.
Not all packaging is included in the new system. Only bottles and cans of up to three litreswill be sold at the additional cost of around 10 cents.
This new SDR system for bottles and cans comes after Portugal's very low rate for the use of recycled materials in 2024 at around three per cent, the third lowest among EU member states.
Portugal currently recycles 37 per cent of bottles, well below the European target of 70 per cent set for 2030.
Several European countries, such as Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Estonia, the Netherlands, Croatia, and Belgium, already have systems like this in place, and some of them have been doing so for more than a decade.
Can I return any packaging up to three litres?
No, only packaging with the "return" symbol is part of the scheme. Until 9 August, you can still find a lot of packaging without this symbol, as the transition period is underway. As of 10 August, all drinks packaging will be compulsorily integrated into the system.
Will I have to pay for all packaging, even without the symbol?
No. If the packaging isn't labelled with the symbol, you won't be charged the deposit because it won't be accepted by the return system.
Where can I find the collection points?
There will be around 2,500 automatic collection points in supermarkets and hypermarkets, and around 48 kiosks in 36 municipalities. They can also be found in cafés, restaurants and bars where the packaging was purchased.
Euronews visited various locations with machines and found that most are positioned outside.
You will soon be able to consult the map of collection points on the Volta website.
Do I have to return the packaging where I bought it?
No. As long as they have the "return" symbol on them, they can be returned anywhere. There is one exception: HORECA establishments are only obliged to accept packaging that they have sold.
How do you return bottles and cans?
Simply go to a machine or a manual point and insert one item at a time. The process is then fully automatic. The machine scans the bottle or can, crushes it and then presents refund options.
What refund options are there? Will I always receive cash?
You don't always receive a cash refund. You have other options, such as a voucher that can be converted into cash, a voucher for a discount in a shop, a loyalty card or a donation to a charity. In the future, there will be the possibility of a digital transfer, such as with MB Way.
Does the packaging have to be in good condition?
Yes. There are certain criteria to be met when depositing packaging. Items may not be accepted if they are not in the correct condition, and you may lose the amount you paid for them.
The packaging must not be crumpled, it must retain its original shape as when it was bought, it must be empty, it must have a lid, and the barcode must be legible.
