Portugal’s Volta deposit return scheme collects 55.5 million containers

Portugal’s new Volta deposit return scheme has collected 55.5 million beverage containers in its first three months, highlighting strong consumer participation while exposing unexpected challenges in Lisbon, where local authorities say the initiative has contributed to more bin-rummaging, litter and pressure on urban cleaning services.

According to Público, between April 10 and July 6, consumers returned 55.5 million single-use beverage containers, including plastic bottles and metal and aluminium cans with a capacity of up to three litres. Each return transaction involved an average of 15 containers.

The Volta scheme refunds consumers €0.10 per eligible container and forms part of Portugal’s drive to increase recycling rates and meet European Union circular economy targets.

SDR Portugal, which manages the national deposit return system, described the launch as “globally very positive”, saying the figures demonstrate that returning containers is becoming part of consumers’ everyday routines.

Lisbon councils report unintended consequences

While the collection figures have been welcomed nationally, several parish councils in central Lisbon say the scheme has produced unintended negative side effects.

Local authorities in Misericórdia, Santo António and Arroios told Público that increasing numbers of people are searching through rubbish bins and recycling containers for refundable bottles and cans, often leaving waste scattered across streets and pavements.

In Misericórdia, which includes neighbourhoods such as Bairro Alto, Bica, Cais do Sodré, Príncipe Real and part of Chiado, parish president Carla Almeida said overturned bins and scattered rubbish had become a daily occurrence, creating frustration for residents and businesses while making street-cleaning operations more difficult.

Santo António parish president Filipa Veiga said complaints from residents have increased noticeably since Volta was introduced in April, particularly around Avenida da Liberdade and nearby streets.

She acknowledges the scheme appears to be meeting its environmental objectives, but said some people are treating container collection as a source of income without replacing rubbish after searching through bins.

‘Daily rubbish hunt’

In Arroios, parish president João Jaime described what residents have called a daily “rubbish hunt”, with people moving from container to container dragging bags in search of refundable packaging.

He said he had personally seen someone climbing inside a recycling container near the parish headquarters at Largo do Intendente while looking for deposit-bearing containers.

Local officials stressed that those searching bins are not exclusively homeless people or individuals struggling with addiction. Almeida said people from a wide range of social backgrounds appeared to be collecting containers, in some cases to supplement their income.

Supermarkets also affected

The issue is not confined to public streets.

Local authorities also report growing congestion and occasional tension around supermarkets and other collection points equipped with automated reverse vending machines.

João Jaime questions whether the current model is appropriate in areas with large homeless populations, citing concerns about people carrying bags of dirty containers into commercial premises.

Almeida also reported receiving accounts of disputes and isolated incidents of violence linked to competition for refundable containers, which now have a direct monetary value.

Lisbon city hall monitoring situation

Lisbon City Council confirms it is monitoring the impact of the scheme.

According to Público, the municipality acknowledges reports from several parts of the capital of rubbish bins and public litter bins being searched or emptied by people looking for eligible containers, with consequences for urban cleanliness.

The council said it regards the problems as part of the early implementation phase, and expects an adjustment period as consumers and other stakeholders adapt to the system.

It adds that it is working with Volta’s organisers while strengthening municipal enforcement teams and will consider further measures if necessary to reduce impacts on public hygiene.

Consumer confusion persists

The scheme has also generated confusion among some consumers.

Portuguese consumer association DECO warned in June that many shoppers received insufficient information before the launch, leading some to mistakenly believe the €0.10 deposit represented a new tax rather than a refundable incentive.

In one way, this is a way of looking at the scheme, given that prices on all single-use plastic beverage containers did increase by 10 cents when it was implemented.

SDR Portugal has said ‘a learning period’ was always expected, and that ‘the most common questions relate to which containers qualify, how refunds work and how deposits are reclaimed’.

Transition period ends in August

Volta was launched on April 10 with more than 2,500 return points across mainland Portugal and the autonomous regions.

A transition period remains in place until August 9, during which products with and without the Volta logo continue to be sold.

The network has recently expanded with dedicated Volta kiosks in Albufeira, Barcelos, Ponta Delgada and Funchal, designed for busy urban areas and tourist destinations.

SDR Portugal plans to expand the network to 50 kiosks across 38 municipalities, with additional locations expected to be announced in the coming months.

The organisation has also launched digital tools, including the Volta app, which helps users identify eligible containers and locate nearby return points, and the volta€ app, which allows deposits collected at kiosks and festivals to be transferred directly to users’ bank accounts.

Source: Executive Digest