Anyone purchasing a bottle of water, a soft drink can or any other beverage sold in a single-use container in Spain will soon have to pay a little more at the checkout. However, this is not due to a new tax or a general price increase, but rather the introduction of a nationwide deposit return scheme for drinks packaging. Through this measure, Spain aims to significantly improve recycling rates and reduce the number of discarded bottles and cans ending up in the environment.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
The so-called SDDR system (“Sistema de Depósito, Devolución y Retorno”) is expected to be introduced nationwide by the end of 2026 and will bring a range of changes for both consumers and the retail and hospitality sectors. While many European countries have relied on deposit return schemes for years, Spain is now entering a new phase in its approach to single-use packaging.
Why Spain is acting now
The introduction is primarily driven by European environmental regulations. In recent years, Spain has failed to meet the required collection targets for single-use beverage packaging. In particular, return and recycling rates for plastic bottles have fallen significantly short of expectations. However, the EU requires member states to achieve increasingly higher collection rates in order to keep raw materials within the circular economy and reduce environmental pollution.
As previous measures have not delivered the desired results, the introduction of a deposit return scheme has become the most obvious solution. Countries such as Germany, Norway and the Netherlands have shown for years that deposit systems are among the most effective tools for achieving high return rates. Spain now aims to follow these successful models and create the conditions needed to recycle significantly more beverage packaging in the future.
Which packaging is affected
Under current plans, the new system is expected to cover a large share of standard single-use beverage packaging. This would include plastic bottles, drink cans and beverage cartons with a capacity of up to three litres. As a result, almost all typical drinks commonly purchased by consumers in supermarkets, kiosks or petrol stations would be affected.
Although the final details have yet to be confirmed, it is already clear that the system is intended to be as comprehensive as possible. The aim is to reduce the number of containers ending up in residual waste or being carelessly discarded in the environment.
How the new deposit system works
The principle behind the new system is simple and already familiar to many Europeans. When purchasing a drink, an additional deposit is charged on top of the actual product price. This amount is shown separately on the receipt and can later be fully refunded.
The deposit amount currently being discussed is ten cents per container. For example, when a customer buys a bottle of water or a can of a soft drink, they initially pay the product price plus the additional deposit. Once the empty container is returned, the ten cents are reimbursed in full.
For consumers, this means that drinks will initially appear slightly more expensive, but the overall cost remains unchanged provided the packaging is returned. The system is designed to create a financial incentive not to throw away bottles and cans, but to return them into the recycling system.
Where returns will be possible
In order for the system to work, a dense network of return points is expected to be established. Larger supermarkets are planned to install reverse vending machines, allowing customers to return their empty containers conveniently. Smaller shops and retail outlets are expected to handle returns partly through manual collection systems.
In addition, further official collection points will be set up to ensure consumers can return their packaging as easily as possible. The aim is for the return process to be as simple as purchasing the products themselves. Authorities are aware that a deposit return system can only succeed if return points are widely available and do not require long journeys.
Impact on tourists
The new regulation will not only affect Spain’s population but also the millions of holidaymakers who visit the country each year. Tourists purchasing drinks in single-use containers will also be required to pay the deposit fee.
This amount can of course be refunded if the containers are returned to an official return point before departure. If they are not returned, the deposit is forfeited. In tourist areas in particular, authorities hope the scheme will have a positive impact on the cleanliness of beaches, parks and public spaces, as beverage containers will in future carry an immediate financial value.
Challenges for retail and hospitality
For supermarkets, kiosks, bars and restaurants, the introduction of the system is expected to involve significant organisational effort. Retail outlets will need to set up return processes, store used packaging and manage the reimbursement of deposits. Smaller businesses in particular are likely to face new challenges, as storage space is often limited.
The hospitality sector will also have to adapt to the new regulations. Businesses selling drinks in deposit-bearing single-use containers will in future be more closely integrated into the return system. The exact practical procedures are expected to be further clarified in the coming months.
Long-term objective
With the new deposit return scheme, Spain is aiming for far more than improved waste separation. The government wants to significantly increase recycling rates for beverage packaging and strengthen the circular economy. At the same time, it seeks to reduce littering in cities, on beaches and in natural environments.
In the long term, the aim is to achieve return rates of around 90 percent. This would bring Spain in line with European countries that are already considered leaders in packaging recycling. Experience from other countries shows that this target can be realistic, provided that both consumers and retailers consistently make use of the system.
What consumers should know now
For most people, everyday life will initially change only slightly. The main difference is that an additional amount will appear on the receipt when purchasing many drinks. Those who return their bottles and cans will receive this amount in full.
The real significance of the new system, however, lies elsewhere: empty containers will for the first time have a direct monetary value. This mechanism has proven to be particularly effective in numerous countries for increasing collection rates while also reducing environmental pollution caused by carelessly discarded packaging.
