Portugal has launched the Volta deposit return system (DRS), making it the first country in continental southern Europe to introduce a full-scale programme of this kind.
The national scheme applies to single-use plastic drinks bottles and metal cans made of aluminium or steel with a capacity of less than three litres. However, glass is not included.
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Consumers pay a €0.10 deposit on each eligible container.
The amount is repaid in full when the item is returned at any authorised collection point, irrespective of where it was bought.
At the start of the rollout, the system covers approximately 2,500 reverse vending machines.
Volta is overseen by SDR Portugal – Associação de Embaladores, a government-licensed non-profit body, while Sensoneo supplies the IT system behind the scheme.
Its platform handles container registration, collection, reverse logistics and financial clearing across the system.
The operational setup also includes logistics arrangements for the collection, transport, counting and settlement of returned containers.
The Portuguese model required broader logistics integration involving several operators, additional warehouse management functions, and links with government systems for compliance with waste transport documentation rules.
TOMRA Collection is supplying reverse vending equipment for the programme.
Tomra Collection Portugal managing director Paulo Borges said: “Portugal’s DRS is a transformative step toward a cleaner environment and a more circular economy. By making it easy for citizens to return drink containers for recycling, we are reducing waste, improving material recovery, and accelerating the transition to a truly circular system.”
Dutch reverse vending machine manufacturer Envipco is the sole supplier of bulk-feed systems for Volta.
