Starting August 10, retailers in Portugal are prohibited from selling single-use beverage containers that are not part of the national deposit return system known as Volta. Consumers will pay an additional 0.10 euro deposit per eligible plastic bottle or metal can, which can be reclaimed upon returning the packaging. Some restaurants have criticized the system, with some establishments opting to switch to glass bottles to avoid the new requirements.
New deposit return scheme rules for beverage containers
Thursday, 6 August 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
Volta is a national deposit and refund system (sistema de depósito e reembolso) for beverage containers launching in Portugal on April 10. It requires consumers to pay a 10-cent deposit on single-use bottles and cans, which is refunded when the empty container is returned to a collection point.
