Portugal's New Deposit Return Scheme Launches 10 April: What You Need to Know

Starting 10 April 2026, buying a bottle of water, a can of beer, or a soft drink in Portugal will cost a little more at the register — but only temporarily. The country’s new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will add a refundable €0.10 deposit to single-use beverage containers up to three litres, aligning Portugal with a growing number of European nations that have adopted similar systems.

The scheme is designed to dramatically increase recycling rates and reduce the volume of packaging waste that ends up in landfills or, worse, scattered across the country’s coastline and countryside.

How It Works

The mechanics are straightforward. When you buy a qualifying beverage — whether from a supermarket, corner shop, or restaurant — a €0.10 deposit is added to the price. Return the empty container to a designated collection point, and you get your deposit back. The containers covered include plastic bottles, aluminium cans, and glass bottles under three litres.

Collection points will be installed at retail locations across the country. Large supermarkets will be required to host reverse vending machines, while smaller shops and hospitality venues will have adapted return procedures.

Business Implications

For retailers and hospitality operators, the new system demands operational adjustments. Deposits must appear on invoices as a separate line item and are not subject to VAT. Businesses need to update their accounting systems and train staff on new procedures — a challenge that is particularly acute for small independent operators who may lack dedicated administrative support.

Industry associations have been working with the government to smooth the transition, though some business owners have expressed concern about the timeline. With less than a month to go, questions remain about whether all collection infrastructure will be fully operational by the launch date.

Environmental Ambitions

Portugal’s target is ambitious: 90 percent collection rates by 2029. To put that in context, countries with mature DRS systems, such as Germany and the Nordic nations, regularly achieve collection rates above 90 percent. Countries without such systems, including Portugal until now, typically languish below 50 percent for certain container types.

The scheme is part of Portugal’s broader compliance with EU Directive 2019/904, the Single-Use Plastics Directive, which requires member states to collect 90 percent of plastic beverage bottles by 2029.

What Residents and Expats Should Know

For anyone living in Portugal, the practical impact is minimal but worth understanding. The deposit is fully refundable — so the cost per drink does not actually increase, provided you return the container. Think of it as a small incentive to do what you might already do, but with a financial nudge.

Expats familiar with similar systems in Germany (Pfand), the Netherlands (Statiegeld), or Scandinavia will find the concept immediately recognisable. For those coming from countries without deposit schemes, the adjustment is minor: keep your empties, return them on your next shopping trip, and pocket the refund.

The system is expected to change habits quickly. In countries where DRS has been introduced, litter rates for covered containers have dropped by 70 to 80 percent within the first two years. For Portugal, where beach cleanups regularly pull thousands of plastic bottles from the sand, that shift cannot come soon enough.