‘Volta’ bottles and cans become mandatory from August 10 – Portugal Resident
Single-use plastic bottles and drink cans without the ‘Volta’ deposit logo can no longer be sold in Portugal from August 10, marking the end of a four-month transition period for the country’s new packaging deposit and refund system.
The national scheme, which came into force on April 10, introduced a refundable 10-cent deposit on eligible plastic bottles and metal drink cans of up to three litres. During the transition period, retailers were allowed to sell existing stock that pre-dated the new rules. From Sunday, only containers carrying the Volta symbol may be sold.
Consumers pay the additional deposit when purchasing an eligible drink and receive it back by returning the empty container to an authorised collection point. The packaging must be empty, undamaged and have a readable barcode. Refunds can be made in cash, as shopping vouchers, credited to loyalty cards or donated to charity.
The system applies to supermarkets, convenience stores, cafés, restaurants and other retailers selling single-use beverages.
According to the government, more than 10 million containers have already been returned since the scheme was launched. Portugal aims to achieve a 90% collection rate by 2029, in line with European Union targets, as part of efforts to boost recycling and the circular economy.
The Volta scheme currently covers plastic, aluminium and steel beverage containers, but glass could eventually be added. Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho has said the government is open to extending the system to glass bottles, although only after assessing whether the environmental and economic benefits would justify the additional costs compared with Portugal’s existing glass recycling network.
