As 500 million beverage containers are collected, SDR Portugal submits cooperation plan to the Minister of Environment and Energy to improve collection results and urban cleanliness

SDR Portugal announces that, on Friday, 16 October, it submitted a cooperation plan to the Minister of Environment and Energy aimed at preventing and mitigating urban cleanliness challenges associated with the operation of the Deposit Return System (DRS), following a request made on 29 September.

The document seeks to strengthen the effectiveness of the system and deepen cooperation between the different stakeholders responsible for waste management, urban cleanliness and territorial management. Through this plan, SDR Portugal presents a set of concrete measures designed to address the challenges observed during the system’s initial implementation phase, while building on the results already achieved.

The System Operator reaffirms the relevance and importance of the Deposit Return System as an essential tool for addressing the challenge of diverting millions of beverage containers from landfill and other disposal routes that do not enable their recycling.

volta represents one of the most significant environmental reforms implemented in Portugal in recent decades, bringing about a structural transformation in how the country manages and recovers the value of beverage packaging, as acknowledged by the Minister of Environment and Energy at the system’s launch. This transformation is already delivering concrete and measurable results.

With 500 million containers returned through more than 3,000 automated volta Collection Points, manual volta Collection Points and 8 volta Kiosks, the system has demonstrated strong participation from citizens and the HoReCa sector, reflecting a commitment to a more circular and sustainable model in Portugal.

During the same week that the Portuguese Environment Agency published its 2025 Urban Waste Report, highlighting the challenges the country continues to face in this sector, volta‘s results provide clear evidence that it is possible to reverse existing trends and accelerate separate collection for recycling.

SDR Portugal acknowledges, however, that challenges remain and must continue to be addressed in cooperation with the various stakeholders involved in waste management and territorial administration.

Among these challenges is the need to develop more suitable solutions for the HoReCa sector, reducing the pressure currently placed on automated volta Collection Points in supermarkets and hypermarkets while simultaneously improving public access to the existing network. There is also a need to expand collection solutions to areas of the country with more limited coverage and to high-traffic locations, such as air and ground transport terminals.

In this context, SDR Portugal has presented a document containing proposals structured around 4 strategic pillars and 14 measures, complemented by a cross-cutting pillar dedicated to governance and monitoring.

The main objective is to strengthen cooperation with organisations responsible for waste management and urban cleanliness, particularly municipalities, parish councils and Urban Waste Management Systems (SGRU).

Through this collaborative approach, the aim is to develop solutions that mitigate the impacts associated with the implementation of volta, while also addressing broader challenges within the waste management ecosystem.

Closer cooperation between the responsible entities will also help accelerate the installation of volta Kiosks, fully financed by SDR Portugal. This is considered a key structural measure for accommodating the return of large quantities of packaging, a particular need within the HoReCa sector.

At the same time, SDR Portugal has been developing targeted initiatives for this sector, promoting a dedicated logistics network that makes packaging returns more convenient.

As part of this plan, SDR Portugal also proposes coordinated action with its partners to address some of the social impacts that have been observed.

These issues arise in a context marked by long-standing urban cleanliness challenges and increasing pressure from tourism, requiring coordinated responses from the various stakeholders responsible for public spaces and waste management.

SDR Portugal considers that citizens, families and businesses are embracing volta at a very significant rate, as demonstrated by the 500 million containers returned approximately six months after the system began operating.

The organisation maintains that consolidating the collection infrastructure is essential to further increasing returns and minimising the difficulties identified in public spaces.

SDR Portugal reaffirms its willingness to work with the Government, municipalities, parish councils and waste management organisations to identify concrete solutions, while respecting the legal framework and the responsibilities of each entity.

The objective is to continue encouraging the correct return of beverage containers, contribute to achieving national collection targets and respond to the identified challenges in a coordinated manner.