Portugal's Volta recycling scheme recovers 150 million containers

The Volta deposit‑return system (SDR) for single‑use beverage containers launched in Portugal on 10 April. Within the first two months it collected 10 million items, reaching 55.5 million by 6 July and surpassing 150 million by late July. The network now includes more than 3,000 automatic collection points in supermarkets and hypermarkets and 50 manual kiosks in 38 municipalities, each able to process about 120 containers per minute.

Small businesses have raised concerns about the scheme’s logistics. A café in Porto’s Quinta Amarela gives returned bottles and cans to a regular low‑income customer and its owner, David Leite, calls for on‑site collection to ease the burden on operators. Meanwhile, individuals such as Ricardo Silva, who lives under a viaduct in Lisbon, rely on gathering Volta‑eligible bottles and cans for a supplemental income of up to €20 a day.

Authorities note that the system, now in its second phase, will continue expanding and launching a communication campaign to address consumer questions and improve urban hygiene, acknowledging occasional litter issues during the rollout.