New deposit and return system for bottles and cans

Starting next year, bottles and cans will have a refundable ten-cent deposit, with the aim of strengthening recycling and reducing CO2 emissions by 109,000 tons.

From April 10, 2026, all beverage bottles and cans sold in Portugal will include an additional deposit of approximately ten cents, which will be refunded to consumers when they return the containers to manual collection points or automatic machines.

According to Diário de Notícias, the measure is the result of an imposition of Brussels' environmental policy and comes into effect within the framework of the Deposit and Return System (SDR Portugal), which aims to reduce the production of new packaging, avoiding up to 109,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), while creating approximately 1,500 direct and indirect jobs.

Data from Eurostat shows that in 2024, Portugal had the third lowest rate of recycled material use in the European Union, with 3% of materials recycled. For comparison, the European average is 12.2%, about four times higher. Only countries like Romania, Ireland, and Finland are behind Portugal in this regard.

The Deposit and Return System will cover not only large commercial areas but also restaurants, hotels, and cafes, with approximately 80,000 integrated points of sale. SDR Portugal plans to install 2,500 automatic collection points, 8,000 manual collection points, and six processing centres for sorting and consolidating packaging, with two main units in Lisbon and Porto.

The system also includes 50 automatic kiosks in high-traffic areas, intended to reinforce collection and prevent the incorrect disposal of packaging, and will cost between €100 and €150 million, according to estimates from SDR itself.

Great to see Portugal introducing a deposit system! In Finland, this has been in place for decades, and the return rate is over 90%. Deposits range from €0.10 to €0.40 depending on the size and material of the bottle or can.

The article’s reference to Finland’s “low recycling rate” actually refers to the circular material use rate (the share of recycled materials in all materials used in the economy), not bottle returns or household waste recycling.

Finland’s municipal waste recycling rate is around 43–55%, which is EU average or better, and the deposit system works extremely well.
Source: Eurostat.

By Harri Fagerholm from Porto on 01 Dec 2025, 10:50

This is excellent news, even though far to late. Will improve everybody’s nature & city/village/beach environment considerably. Fantastic.

By Marty from Algarve on 01 Dec 2025, 11:06

Sorry but you Have a big mistake on your article of recycling. In Finland we recycle 90% of bottles and aluminum cans.

By Tanja Kumpuniemi from Other on 01 Dec 2025, 11:50

As far as I know, the return rate for bottles and cans in Finland is at the top of the world; almost all bottles and cans are recycled.

By JJussi from Algarve on 01 Dec 2025, 13:53

They need to do the same on plastic actimel bottles, cigarette packets and all the other stuff that gets thrown out of car windows by the lazy toe rags who can't even be bothered to take their rubbish home

By Peter from Other on 01 Dec 2025, 15:00

In the Algarve and the Faro Area the collection points and collections made are inadequate! Similarly there appears to be a lack of public awareness

By MR JOHN KYLES from Algarve on 01 Dec 2025, 15:07

Doubt if that will be enough to get the lazy sods of their backsides

By Eric Humphreys from Other on 03 Dec 2025, 00:01

Really great idea! I am eagerly awaiting to see what the collection points system will be like. My experience is that the store who sells bottled or canned products is compelled to accept the returned containers, regardless of which store actually sold the product.

By Jean-Claude Audet from Beiras on 04 Dec 2025, 13:05

This is to start 5 months from now?
It will require years to set up something this complex. In counties that have had return deposits for decades, they still have difficulty with logistics.

By mark Holden from Algarve on 04 Dec 2025, 14:57