Anyone going to Spain may have to pay an additional deposit when purchasing some drinks sold in packaging such as plastic bottles, cans or cardboard packages. According to the British newspaper, this amount does not correspond to a new tax, but to a refundable deposit, charged at the time of purchase and returned when the consumer delivers the empty packaging to the locations provided by the system.
According to the official Spanish portal Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), the deposit is expected to be equal to or greater than 10 cents for each unit of drink placed on the market. This deposit will initially be borne by the producers, then transferred along the sales chain and, finally, charged to the end consumer, who recovers it when they deliver the used packaging under the conditions established by the system.
What drinks are covered by the new deposit?
The system in Spain applies to single-use plastic bottles of up to three liters used in drinks such as mineral and spring waters, juices, nectars, refreshing drinks, energy drinks, isotonic drinks and alcoholic drinks. The Spanish standard also determines that, to guarantee the technical, environmental and economic viability of the system, cans and carton packaging for drinks of these products are also included.
Although it may make purchasing drinks more expensive at the time of payment, the additional deposit should not be confused with a tourist tax or a tax aimed at visitors. The rule applies to consumers in general, including residents and tourists, and the value is recoverable upon return of the empty packaging.
Where will it be possible to return the packaging?
The return points will still have to be defined by the system itself, but the law allows for several possibilities, including retail trade, containers, specific centers or other collection mechanisms. The packaging covered must be properly identified to inform the consumer that they are part of the system and that the amount paid will be refunded if they are delivered after use.
In practice, this means that the consumer will pay more at the time of purchase, but will be able to recover this amount when returning the packaging to the designated locations. The logic is similar to that already applied in other European Union (EU) countries, where deposit systems seek to encourage the return of packaging and reduce waste abandonment.
Why is Spain going forward with this measure?
The decision is the result of failure to meet the targets for the separate collection of single-use plastic bottles. The official report from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge () calculated that, in 2023, Spain separately collected 41.3% of these bottles, below the 70% target set for that year.
As this objective was not achieved, the MITECO report concludes that a Deposit, Return and Return System must be implemented throughout the national territory within two years. The legal basis is Royal Decree 1055/2022, which provides for the system to come into operation after reporting non-compliance to the responsible operators.
Measure follows European rules
The EU has been reinforcing collection and recycling targets for beverage bottles and containers. The European Directive on single-use plastics allows Member States to use deposit, return and return systems to improve separate collection.
The new EU Regulation 2025/40 on packaging also points to mandatory deposit systems for plastic bottles and metal beverage containers, reinforcing the trend towards producer responsibility and greater consumer participation in returning packaging.
Volta system in Portugal
A new system has come into force in Portugal that promises to change the way consumers deal with beverage packaging, and although the practical impact is still beginning to be felt, there is already a direct incentive that can make a difference in everyday life.
Since April 10th this year, some packages have had an associated value, as long as they are returned to specific points spread across the country, in a model that already exists in other European countries and which is now beginning to take its first steps at a national level.
According to the Government, it was one of the largest environmental projects underway in Portugal, with the aim of significantly increasing recycling rates and reducing waste associated with single-use packaging.
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