Spain implements 10-cent deposit return system for beverage containers

Spain has launched its national Deposit, Return and Refund System (SDDR), introducing a 10-cent deposit on eligible single-use beverage containers, including cans, plastic bottles, and cartons up to three liters. Consumers pay this additional amount at the time of purchase and can recover it in full by returning empty containers to authorized collection points.

Retailers and hospitality establishments are required to collect these deposits and must accept empty containers for refund, even if they were originally purchased at a different location. Some businesses may need to install automated machines to facilitate the process. This initiative is part of Spain’s efforts to comply with Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils, aiming to reach a 90% collection rate for plastic packaging by 2029.

The implementation of the SDDR may lead to new social behaviors, such as the collection of discarded containers from public spaces, similar to the ‘Pfandsammeln’ practice in Germany. This could turn discarded packaging in bins or public areas into a form of recoverable cash.