Until the 90s, returning the bottle cap to the bar or corner store and receiving a few coins in return was an everyday practice. With the arrival of plastic, this habit disappeared and gave way to an exponential growth in single-use packaging, cans, and cartons that now fill our refrigerators and, unfortunately, also roadsides, beaches, and mountains. To curb this situation, Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament on packaging and packaging waste, known as PPWR, came into effect in Spain on August 12, 2026, introducing profound changes in the management of these materials.
The regulation, already successfully implemented in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal, establishes a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) that will require consumers to pay a deposit for each beverage container and recover it upon its return. In Spain, this system should be operational before November 22, 2026, according to Law 7/2022 on Waste, although the food sector and various sources indicate that the timeline is very tight and could be delayed until 2029, the deadline set by Brussels.
How will the 10 cent deposit work?
The system is simple: when buying a beverage in a plastic bottle, can, or carton of up to three liters, the customer will pay an additional fee of at least 10 cents per container, which will be itemized on the receipt. This amount is not a price increase, but a deposit that is refunded when the empty container is returned to a designated collection point. For the container to be accepted, the barcode must be legible and the container must not be crushed, as is the case in systems already in operation in other European countries.
The refund can be made at any participating establishment, not necessarily where the beverage was purchased. Supermarkets and large stores will install automated machines that identify the container and issue a voucher or refund, while smaller shops may process refunds manually. In any case, the consumer is not obligated to make a new purchase to receive their money back, although some establishments will offer discounts on future purchases as an alternative.
Why is the SDDR being implemented in Spain?
The main reason is the failure to meet separate collection targets for plastic bottles. In 2023, Spain only recovered 41,3% of these containers, far short of the 70% required by national and European regulations. This failure triggered the clause in Royal Decree 1055/2022 that mandated the implementation of a deposit return scheme (DRS) within two years. Furthermore, the European Union requires that the collection rate reach 90% by 2029, a target that, according to experts, can only be achieved with a deposit system that financially incentivizes return.
The Spanish model, however, has unique characteristics that complicate its implementation. The highly fragmented nature of local governments, the importance of the hospitality sector in beverage consumption, and the influx of tourists in certain areas make logistics more complex than in other countries. According to the SDDR association, created by the sector to coordinate implementation, an investment of between 400 and 600 million euros will be needed to adapt the more than 500.000 commercial establishments and manage around 18.000 billion containers per year.
Impact on consumers and businesses
For consumers, the change will mean a new habit: keeping empty containers at home and taking them to a designated collection point instead of throwing them in the yellow recycling bin. While some may see it as a nuisance, proponents of the system point out that in countries like Germany, the return rate exceeds 90%, and that the money recovered compensates for the effort. Furthermore, the PPWR introduces other measures that will affect daily life, such as the requirement for hospitality establishments to accept customers' own containers from 2027, and the ban on single-serving packets of sauces, oil, and sugar in bars and restaurants from 2030.
On the other hand, retailers, especially local shops, have expressed concern about the space needed to store the packaging and the installation of return machines. Supermarket associations, such as Asedas, warn that small shops in cities and rural areas will have difficulty adapting, and are calling for public subsidies and a more flexible timeline. Despite this, the Ministry for Ecological Transition insists that implementation is urgent and that the system must be operational as soon as possible to comply with European requirements.
Other new features of the European Packaging Regulation
The PPWR not only regulates deposit return schemes but also establishes a broader framework for reducing packaging waste. Among its key provisions is the requirement that all packaging be recyclable by 2030, with technical criteria that will be phased in. The use of PFAS in food contact packaging will also be restricted, and reuse will be encouraged in sectors such as hospitality and catering. From 2028, packaging will bear harmonized labeling across the EU clearly indicating the material and the container for which it should be disposed of.
Another important measure is the reduction of over-packaging and the requirement that large retailers dedicate 10% of their space to bulk or refillable products starting in 2030. According to Ecologists in Action, these initiatives represent a shift in the model that prioritizes prevention and reuse over recycling, which has proven insufficient to curb waste accumulation. In this regard, the organization welcomes the implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in Spain, although it criticizes administrative delays, such as the blockage in the Community of Madrid in authorizing system operators.
In short, the implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and the other measures of the PPWR represent a decisive step in the fight against single-use plastics. Although the path ahead is not without its challenges, the experience of other European countries demonstrates that it is possible to recover most containers and reduce their environmental impact. Consumers, retailers, and government agencies must work together to ensure this transition is effective and does not lead to unjustified price increases. The health of the planet is at stake, and every small gesture, like returning a bottle, makes a bigger difference than it seems.