Sistema Volta collects 305 million containers in five months

The Volta System has collected over 305 million single-use beverage bottles and cans within its first five months of operation. Managed by SDR Portugal, the deposit and refund system has seen rapid growth since its launch on April 10, with the number of returned items tripling in the last two months alone.

Currently, the system processes an average of approximately five million containers per day, or more than 3,400 containers per minute. To support this volume, the collection network has expanded to include 3,000 automatic Volta Points in supermarkets and hypermarkets, alongside manual collection solutions for smaller shops.

To handle large-scale returns, the network operates seven kiosks in locations including Albufeira, Barcelos, Cascais, Funchal, Ponta Delgada, Portimão, and Vila Nova de Famalicão. Five additional kiosks are currently being implemented in Almada, Aveiro, Mafra, Oeiras, and Vila do Conde, as part of a broader goal to reach 50 units nationwide. The system covers single-use beverage packaging with capacities up to three liters.