volta reaches 600 million beverage containers returned and launches municipality-level returns tracker

Portugal’s deposit return scheme, volta, reached 600 million beverage containers returned this Thursday, since operations began in April 2026. To mark this milestone, SDR Portugal is strengthening transparency around the results achieved by launching a new data dashboard on its website, https://sdrportugal.pt/en/, allowing users to track returns by district, municipality and Urban Waste Management System (SGRU).

Updated monthly, the new tool provides information on the number of containers returned, the breakdown between bottles and cans, and the existing collection network, including the number of automated and manual return points, as well as volta Kiosks. This enables citizens, municipalities and other partners to monitor results in detail and understand the contribution of each area to the operation and success of the scheme.

The new feature is available on SDR Portugal’s website at https://sdrportugal.pt/en/impact/ and complements the public counter already featured on the volta homepage, which provides daily updates on the total number of containers returned nationwide.

According to Leonardo Mathias, President of SDR Portugal, “Transparency builds trust, and trust drives participation. These figures provide greater visibility of the scheme’s impact across different areas and recognise the essential role played by municipalities, partners and citizens in achieving these results. We want every community to be able to follow the figures and see that its contribution is genuinely making a difference.”

“We have already reached 600 million containers returned, demonstrating both public engagement and the operational capacity of a network involving thousands of return points and a wide range of partners across the country. By making these results public and easily accessible, we are highlighting the collective impact of thousands of individual actions and our shared commitment to the circular economy,” adds Leonardo Mathias.

Every container returned contributes to recycling and material recovery, while also helping to ease the pressure on a waste management system facing significant challenges. With several landfill sites across Portugal approaching their available capacity limits, it is increasingly important to ensure that recyclable materials, such as the beverage containers covered by volta, remain within the circular economy rather than ending up in landfill.

Consolidating the scheme’s infrastructure is, however, essential to further accelerate returns and strengthen its collection capacity. In this context, completing the network of volta Kiosks, fully funded by SDR Portugal, is particularly important. Of the 50 volta Kiosks planned across 38 municipalities, eight are currently operational in Albufeira, Almada, Barcelos, Cascais, Funchal, Ponta Delgada, Portimão and Vila Nova de Famalicão, with a further seven already contracted in Aveiro, Coimbra, Lagoa, Loulé, Mafra, Oeiras and Vila do Conde.

Expanding the network will significantly increase the capacity and efficiency of container collection, helping to reduce the number of containers disposed of in recycling bins and general waste, while also minimising the impact on urban cleanliness. However, the installation of Kiosks depends on authorisation from the relevant municipalities and the provision of suitable public spaces, making close cooperation with local authorities essential to delivering the planned network.

Designed to complement the network of automated volta return points, volta Kiosks have been developed to facilitate the return of large quantities of beverage containers, particularly for restaurants, cafés and other operators in the HoReCa sector. Their introduction will increase collection capacity and relieve pressure on automated volta return points, which currently account for 99% of all returns within the scheme.

These facilities offer a simple and efficient return process, removing the need to insert containers individually and providing a collection capacity of approximately 120 containers per minute. A member of staff is also permanently available on site to provide assistance whenever needed.

Alongside this, the development of the voluntary collection network will extend the presence of volta to other high-footfall locations, including airports, bus and railway terminals, business and university campuses, and wholesale outlets, through the installation of collection machines.

The volume of returns achieved demonstrates that volta is being used on a large scale by citizens across Portugal. By making results accessible at local level and continuing to strengthen its infrastructure, SDR Portugal aims to consolidate the participation of citizens and municipalities, improve collection capacity and accelerate progress towards environmental targets, which require the collection of 90% of eligible beverage containers by the end of 2029.