From 10 April 2026, consumers will begin paying a small deposit — expected to be around €0.10 — on plastic bottles and aluminium cans. That amount will be refunded when the empty containers are returned to designated collection points or machines.

The system, known as a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), is being rolled out nationwide rather than in a single city, marking one of Portugal’s most ambitious environmental measures in recent years.

A shift in everyday habits

In practical terms, the idea is simple: buy a drink, pay a deposit, and get it back when you return the packaging. But behind that simplicity is a bigger goal — changing long-standing habits.

Instead of throwing bottles and cans into recycling bins, people will now be expected to return them intact to machines, often located in supermarkets and retail spaces.

The system will apply to single-use beverage containers up to three litres, including plastic bottles and metal cans, though not glass or other materials.

Thousands of collection points planned

To make the system work nationwide, Portugal is building a large network of returns.

The plan includes around 2,500 machines where people can return bottles and cans automatically, along with a much wider network of manual return points in shops, cafés, and other businesses. In busy areas, dedicated kiosks may also be available to handle higher demand.

In practice, this means returning containers should be relatively easy, whether you’re doing your weekly shop or just passing through a city centre. Supermarkets will play a central role, but smaller retailers and hospitality venues are also expected to be involved.

Environmental pressure behind the move

This isn’t happening in isolation. Portugal has been under growing pressure to improve its recycling performance and meet EU targets, where it has traditionally fallen behind the average.

The deposit system is meant to change that. The government aims to achieve a 90% collection rate for drink containers by 2029 — a level that would bring the country into line with European requirements.

There’s also an expected wider impact. Less waste ending up in landfill, fewer containers lost in the environment, and some knock-on economic effects, including new jobs linked to collection, transport, and processing.

A phased start

The rollout won’t happen all at once.

In the early stages, only certain containers — those clearly marked as part of the system — will be accepted. This is meant to give both businesses and consumers time to adjust.

Over time, the scheme will expand to include all eligible packaging, with full coverage expected later in 2026.