In Portugal, the Mercadona chain has introduced a container return system that allows customers to get back 10 cents for each returned plastic bottle or aluminum can. While this practice is already common in many European countries, it remains unavailable to residents of Spain, despite similar environmental challenges and close trade relations between the two countries.
Since April 2024, customers at the Mercadona supermarket in Caldas da Rainha have been able to return empty bottles and cans to special machines. After the packaging is checked, money is returned to the customer’s bank card or issued as a coupon, discount, or loyalty card bonus. The system covers single-use metal and plastic containers up to three liters in volume, provided they are marked with a special sign. However, not all types of packaging are included yet—the program is in a pilot phase that is gradually expanding.
Portuguese experience
The introduction of the container return system in Portugal has become an important step for the entire sector. The country became the nineteenth in Europe to implement such a scheme. This is especially significant given the common markets and similar products, which often have identical labeling for Spain and Portugal. According to Talent24h, refunds for returned containers have already become a noticeable incentive for shoppers, and the process is as automated and transparent as possible.
The mechanism is simple: when purchasing a beverage in packaging participating in the program, a 10-cent deposit is added to the price. You can only get this money back by returning the packaging in good condition to one of the collection points. In some stores, including Mercadona in Lisbon, the refund is made directly to a bank card, making the process even more convenient for consumers.
The Spanish perspective
In Spain, the implementation of the container return system (SDDR) remains under discussion. The country is required to introduce this mechanism by November 2026, as it failed to meet European standards for plastic bottle collection: in 2023, the collection rate was only 41.3% against the mandated 70%. However, industry representatives are already expressing doubts about meeting the deadline. The reason is the lack of a clear regulatory framework and uncertainty over who will operate the system at the national level.
Currently, several organizations are applying in Madrid: SDDR para España, Ecoembes, Corepet, and Procircular. Unlike Portugal, which has a single operator, Spain may see competition among several companies. In addition, Spanish legislation plans to include not only bottles and cans in the system, but also “brick”-type packaging, setting this model apart from the Portuguese one.
Impact on daily life
The introduction of the deposit return system in Spain is expected to lead to a noticeable reduction in street litter and improve the cleanliness of public spaces. This is especially relevant for a country where around 18 billion beverage containers are sold annually. The issue of recycling and waste management is becoming increasingly important for cities and regions, and the experience of neighboring Portugal shows that even small financial incentives can change consumer behavior.
The topic of regulating everyday habits and new rules for citizens is becoming increasingly relevant in Spain. For example, requirements for dog owners were recently tightened, and now even a short walk without supervision can lead to serious fines—more details on this can be found in the article about the new rules for dog owners.
The question of when the deposit return system will start operating in Spain remains open. For now, Portugal’s experience serves not only as an example for the Spanish market, but also as a reminder of the need to speed up reforms in waste management.
