Lisbon's 'Volta' bottle‑deposit scheme triggers street litter and container tampering

Portugal’s capital has seen sanitation problems after the introduction of the “Volta” deposit‑refund system on 10 April. The scheme refunds 10 cents for each single‑use plastic, metal or aluminium bottle or can returned to more than 2 500 collection points across the country. Within weeks, the city’s municipal council recorded containers and paper bins being rummaged through or dumped onto the streets as people search for eligible packaging to claim the refund.

Neighbourhoods including Misericórdia, Santo António and Arroios reported the issue, noting that the participants range from people experiencing homelessness to well‑dressed individuals seeking supplemental income. The council says the programme is still in its early implementation phase and will continue to monitor the situation, increasing municipal inspections and considering measures to mitigate the impact on urban hygiene while preserving the environmental benefits of the scheme.