Spain to introduce refundable deposits on beverage containers from November 2026
Spain will launch a nationwide deposit-return system for beverage containers in November 2026, according to Heraldo. Bars, restaurants, supermarkets and shops will collect a refundable deposit of at least €0.10 on eligible containers and accept empty returns.
Refundable charge to cover drinks packaging
Spain will introduce a nationwide deposit-return system for beverage containers in November 2026, requiring bars, restaurants, supermarkets and other retailers to participate in the collection of used packaging. Heraldo reports that customers will pay a refundable deposit when purchasing drinks in eligible containers.
The system, known in Spain as the Sistema de Depósito, Devolución y Retorno, or SDDR, will apply to plastic bottles, cans and beverage cartons with a capacity of up to 3 litres. Products covered include water, soft drinks, juice and beer. Glass containers are also mentioned among the packaging types entering the organised collection, recycling and recovery chain.
The deposit will generally be about €0.10, while the new model provides for a charge of at least €0.10 per container, according to Heraldo. It is not a permanent surcharge: consumers will recover the money when they return the empty packaging to a participating shop or an authorised collection point.
Hospitality and retail businesses join the return network
The measure gives hospitality venues a direct operational role in packaging recovery. Bars and restaurants will have to add the deposit at the point of sale and handle eligible empty containers returned by customers. Supermarkets and shops will face the same obligations.
Participating businesses will be required to accept returns even when the container was originally purchased elsewhere, Heraldo reports. Consumers will therefore be able to return packaging either to the seller or to another authorised location. Reverse-vending machines will be installed at selected sites; after scanning a container's barcode, the machine will initiate reimbursement of the deposit.
For beverage producers and distributors, the system will require packaging, barcodes and distribution processes to work with a national return network. Hospitality operators and smaller retailers will also need procedures for storage, handling and repayment. The practical burden may be greater for businesses with limited floor space or high volumes of drinks sold for immediate consumption.
Collection rate prompted policy change
The government is introducing the SDDR after Spain failed to meet European collection expectations. European rules require the collection of at least 70% of the relevant waste, while single-use plastic bottle collection in Spain reached only 41.3% in 2023, according to figures cited by Heraldo.
That gap helped drive the decision to move beyond the existing yellow-container collection system. The central government intends the refundable deposit to raise effective recycling rates, reduce improperly discarded packaging and bring Spain closer to European Union environmental targets, while limiting the risk of continued non-compliance and possible sanctions from Brussels.
Industry sought more preparation time
Implementation will require collection machines at some supermarkets and workable arrangements for small shops that cannot rely on automated equipment. The network must also process returns from consumers regardless of where individual containers were sold.
Manufacturers and distributors have requested more time before the system takes effect. Heraldo says the Ministry for the Ecological Transition has so far rejected that request and does not envisage postponing the November 2026 launch. Spain will follow deposit-return models already used in European countries including Portugal, Germany and Denmark.
