Spain to launch 10‑cent deposit scheme for single‑use drink containers on Aug 12

From 12 August 2026, bars, restaurants, supermarkets and shops across Spain will add a €0.10 deposit to each single‑use drink container – cans, plastic bottles and cartons up to three litres – under the new Deposit, Return and Retrieval (SDDR) system. The charge is a refundable guarantee; consumers recover the full amount by returning the empty container to any authorised collection point, with larger retailers installing automated reverse‑vending machines and smaller outlets offering manual return.

The scheme is part of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the 2025/40 rule that also mandates a gradual ban on single‑use plastic sachets used for condiments such as sugar, ketchup and mayonnaise. The European target is to collect 90 % of plastic packaging by 1 January 2029, a goal already met in several member states.

Industry voices, including Pilar Arrayás of Cartón Circular, say the regulation shifts responsibility to manufacturers, who must design containers for circularity and demonstrate compliance throughout the product’s life‑cycle. The association is helping members prepare through a 2025‑2029 business plan aimed at safer, more efficient, and regulation‑compliant packaging.