Portugal has launched its national deposit-return scheme (DRS) for beverage containers. The scheme, known as Volta, applies to single-use containers of up to 3 litres made of plastic, aluminium and steel, with a deposit of €0.10 per container. Glass is not included for the time being, which has drawn criticism from environmental organisations.

Consumers can return empty containers via more than 3,000 collection points, including reverse vending machines and manual return points. The system is supported by a digital platform that handles registration, logistics and financial processing.

Notable is the strong focus on digitalisation and logistical efficiency, particularly in island regions such as the Azores, where collection points also function as storage and consolidation hubs.

With the introduction of this system, Portugal is positioning itself as one of the first Southern European countries with a national DRS. The aim is to further improve the collection and recycling of beverage packaging, although the exclusion of glass remains a key point of debate.