EU mandates deposit‑return scheme for beverage packaging by 2029

The European Union’s new packaging waste regulation (2025/40) requires all member states to introduce a deposit‑return system (DRS) for single‑use plastic bottles and metal cans by 2029. The scheme adds a refundable charge of 10‑25 cents per container, which consumers receive when they return the empty, intact packaging to retailers or collection points. States that achieve at least 80 % separate collection of plastic bottles and cans by 2026, and maintain 90 % collection by 2029, may be exempted from the mandatory DRS, although the exemption is lifted if the target is not met for three consecutive years.

Proponents cite environmental benefits such as collection rates above 90 %, reduced litter and plastic dispersal, and higher‑quality recycling that keeps material in a “bottle‑to‑bottle” or “can‑to‑can” loop. Economic advantages include lower municipal waste‑management costs, stimulation of recycling‑sector innovation, and the creation of qualified jobs in logistics and treatment. Some countries also channel the deposit refunds to charitable causes, generating a “donation economy”. The measure is intended to help EU members meet climate and decarbonisation targets and to align with the 2019 single‑use plastics directive.