The System
The Deposit Return System promotes the circular economy by recovering single-use beverage containers made of PET bottles and aluminium or steel cans up to 3 litres, enabling high-quality recycling of these materials and contributing to the reduction of natural resource consumption.
How does the DRS work?
For the citizen-consumer, the Deposit Return System to be implemented will operate in an accessible, simple, and intuitive way. At the time of purchasing single-use beverage containers up to three litres, the citizen-consumer will pay a deposit, which will be fully refunded upon returning the containers.
Once the single-use containers are returned to designated collection points across the country, they will be sent to Counting and Sorting Centres. Subsequently, the containers will be processed into secondary raw materials (such as rPET and recycled aluminium or steel alloys), suitable for food contact, which will be used to produce new containers, once again made available for purchase by the citizen-consumer.
In this way, SDR Portugal ensures that the citizen-consumer fully recovers the deposit paid at the time of purchase while actively and responsibly contributing to the national collection and recycling effort.
Retail
An additional deposit fee, fixed and independent of the price of the product, is charged upon purchase of beverage single-use containers
Beverage Industry
Beverage producers and packagers
Consumer-citizen:
The consumer returns the single-use containers to the collection point and receives the deposit paid upon purchase
Management of the Deposit Refund System
Recyclers
Those who transform the material collected for recycling and reuse as new packaging to produce new containers
Counting and Sorting Centres
For the counting and preparation of used single-use containers for recycling
Return Points
In retail, traditional stores, hospitality, and other locations
Logistics
From collection points of single-use containers to counting and sorting centres
How does the DRS work?
For the citizen-consumer, the Deposit Return System to be implemented will operate in an accessible, simple, and intuitive way. At the time of purchasing single-use beverage containers up to three litres, the citizen-consumer will pay a deposit, which will be fully refunded upon returning the containers.
Once the single-use containers are returned to designated collection points across the country, they will be sent to Counting and Sorting Centres. Subsequently, the containers will be processed into secondary raw materials (such as rPET and recycled aluminium or steel alloys), suitable for food contact, which will be used to produce new containers, once again made available for purchase by the citizen-consumer.
In this way, SDR Portugal ensures that the citizen-consumer fully recovers the deposit paid at the time of purchase while actively and responsibly contributing to the national collection and recycling effort.
Retail
An additional deposit fee, fixed and independent of the price of the product, is charged upon purchase of beverage single-use containers
Consumer-citizen:
The consumer returns the single-use containers to the collection point and receives the deposit paid upon purchase
Return Points
In retail, traditional stores, hospitality, and other locations
Management of the Deposit Refund System
Logistics
From collection points of single-use containers to counting and sorting centres
Counting and Sorting Centres
For the counting and preparation of used single-use containers for recycling
Recyclers
Those who transform the material collected for recycling and reuse as new packaging to produce new containers
Beverage Industry
Beverage producers and packagers
Legislation and targets
The Deposit Return System to be implemented by SDR Portugal incorporates insights from pilot projects already carried out, as well as knowledge gained from various Deposit Return Systems operating in Europe and globally, contributing to meeting the ambitious environmental targets that Portugal is committed to at the European level.
Key objectives
Selective collection of single-use plastic beverage bottles
Minimum recycled content in single-use PET plastic beverage bottles
Selective collection of single-use plastic bottles and metal containers for beverages
Minimum recycled content in single-use PET plastic beverage bottles
Minimum recycled content in single-use PET plastic bottles
Legislation
Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Selective collection of 77% by 2025 and 90% by 2029; minimum incorporation of 25% recycled material into single-use PET plastic bottles in 2025, 30% by 2030.
Decree-Law 78/2021, of September 24
Starting from January 1, 2025, a minimum of 25% incorporation of recycled plastic into single-use PET plastic bottles for beverages <3L, including their capsules and caps, containing PET. Starting from January 1, 2030, it increases to 30%, applicable to all single-use plastic bottles for beverages <3L.
Law 69/2018, of December 26
RGGR (General Waste Management Regime) – establishes an incentive system for the return of non-reusable plastic beverage packaging, to be implemented by December 31, 2019, in the form of a pilot project, and a deposit system for plastic, glass, ferrous metals, and aluminium beverage packaging, mandatory as of January 1, 2022 (already surpassed).
Decree-Law no. 152-D/2017 of 11 December, as currently amended
Establishes the mandatory existence of a Deposit and Return System for non-reusable beverage containers in plastic, ferrous metals and aluminium with a volume under 3 litres.
Joint Order no. 1/ME/MAEN/2024 – Licence for the management of a Deposit and Return System
Confirms the approval of the Licence granted to SDR Portugal for the management of a Deposit and Return System.
Licence Extension – Autonomous Region of the Azores
Licence Extension – Autonomous Region of Madeira
Decree-Law no. 78/2021 of 24 September
From 1 January 2025, requires a minimum of 25% recycled plastic content in single-use PET plastic beverage bottles under 3 litres, including their caps and lids containing PET. From 1 January 2030, this increases to 30%, applicable to all single-use plastic beverage bottles under 3 litres.
Decree-Law 78/2021, of September 24
Starting from January 1, 2025, a minimum of 25% incorporation of recycled plastic into single-use PET plastic bottles for beverages <3L, including their capsules and caps, containing PET. Starting from January 1, 2030, it increases to 30%, applicable to all single-use plastic bottles for beverages <3L.
Decree-Law no. 152-D/2017 of 11 December, as currently amended
Establishes the mandatory existence of a Deposit and Return System for non-reusable beverage containers in plastic, ferrous metals and aluminium with a volume under 3 litres.
Joint Order no. 1/ME/MAEN/2024 – Licence for the management of a Deposit and Return System
Confirms the approval of the Licence granted to SDR Portugal for the management of a Deposit and Return System.
Licence Extension – Autonomous Region of the Azores
Licence Extension – Autonomous Region of Madeira
DRS in Europe
Deposit Return Systems operate in several European countries, collecting more than 35 billion containers annually and involving around 357 million inhabitants. With high collection rates and high-quality recycled materials, they reduce the need for virgin raw materials, driving the circular economy.
Austria
Recycling Pfang Österreich gGmbH
Denmark
Dansk Retursystem A/S
Estonia
Eesti Pandipakend
Finland
Suomen Palautuspakkaus Oy (PALPA)
Germany
DPG Deutsche Pfandsystem GmbH
Hungary
REpont
Iceland
Flöskumóttaka Endurvinnslan
Ireland
Re-turn
Latvia
Depozita Iepakojuma Operators (Depozīta Punkts)
Lithuania
Užstato sistemos administratorius
Malta
Beverage Container Refund Scheme
The Netherlands
Statiegeld Nederland
Norway
Infinitum
Portugal
SDR Portugal
Romania
RetuRO
Slovakia
Správca zálohového systému, n.o.
Sweden
AB Svenska Returpack
Croatia
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