— By Vladislav Vorotnikov — 

Despite a delay of nearly four years from the initial plan, Portugal’s deposit return system (DRS) is now on track for introduction on 10 April 2026. This was confirmed by the country’s Minister of the Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, during the 2026 state budget presentation on 5 November.

Managed by SDR Portugal (Lisbon; www.sdrportugal.pt), a government-licensed industry alliance, DRS will cover single-use beverage containers made of plastics, aluminium, and steel, with a volume of up to 3 litres. Due to the higher risk of contaminating the resulting recyclates, wine and dairy containers are excluded from the deposit scheme.

The system is expected to significantly increase the collection rate of these containers and secure annual savings between EUR 20 mn and EUR 40 mn in urban cleaning costs, according to Graça Carvalho.

Related: Portugal allocates EUR 30 mn to strengthen recycling, waste recovery

Upon launch, the DRS infrastructure in Portugal will comprise 2,500 automated machines and 8,000 manual collection points across the country, the minister said.

While the value of the deposit has not yet been disclosed, an earlier proposal had recommended EUR 0.10 per bottle.

Portugal’s deposit return system is being introduced as a part of the government’s new strategy to improve waste management by transforming refuse into environmental resources. It focuses on reducing waste generation and promoting a circular economy. The plan is part of Portugal’s effort to meet EU targets for waste reduction and landfill diversion.

Related: Global waste incineration increases as landfill declines and recycling stagnates

Currently, Portugal sends packaging worth on average EUR 37 mn to landfills. The introduction of the DRS is expected to significantly reduce this amount, relieving the pressure on landfills and contributing to a more sustainable waste management system.

Portugal’s plastic packaging recycling rate was 39.5% in 2023, according to Eurostat, up from 34% in 2021.

Related: Eurostat data shows wide variation in progress towards 2030 recycling targets

Market players welcomed Portugal’s plans for the introduction of a deposit return system. During an industry conference earlier this year, Francisco Furtado Mendonça, general director of the Portuguese soft drinks association Probeb (Lisbon; www.probeb.pt), said the initiative will help boost the country’s plastic packaging recycling rate to 90%.

At the same event, Mafalda Mota, head of the waste streams and market division of the national environment agency Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (APA, Amadora; www.apambiente.pt), stressed the importance of maintaining zero food packaging contamination. Mota said this is necessary to meet the targets for recycled material use.