Bottles and Cans Without the 'Volta' Logo Say Goodbye to the Shelves as of August 10

If you take a look at beverage packaging while grocery shopping or buying something from the kiosk, it means we are in the middle of a new era. The four-month transition period in the deposit and return system initiated by Portugal for single-use packaging will be completely closed as of August 10. During this adaptation phase, which has been going on since April, markets were liquidating their old stocks. However, as of Sunday, no plastic bottles or metal cans without the 'Volta' logo will be sold. How Does the System Work in Practice? In fact, the logic is quite simple and it is a system that is quickly integrated into our daily routine: 10 Cent Deposit: We pay an additional 10 cent deposit at the checkout when purchasing plastic bottles or metal beverage cans up to three liters. Return Conditions: To get the deposit back, it is sufficient to take the empty packaging to authorized collection points. However, there are small details to pay attention to: The bottle or box must be uncrushed, empty and its barcode must be fully readable. Refund Options: You can get cash for the packages you return; You can also use it as a shopping voucher, grocery card balance or direct donation to charities. What Does It Cover, Where Does It Go? This application applies not only to giant supermarket chains; It covers all kinds of businesses that sell beverages, from neighborhood grocery stores to cafes and restaurants. More than 10 million packages have already been collected since the system was opened. The goal is to achieve a 90% recycling rate by 2029, in line with EU standards. Currently, the system only covers plastic, aluminum and steel cans. Whether glass bottles will be included in the system is on the table; The Ministry of Environment will make the final decision after reviewing the additional costs it will bring to the existing glass recycling network. In short, when buying drinks from now on, it would be beneficial to pay attention to the small 'Volta' logo on the packaging and save the empty ones for return instead of throwing them away. News: Inês Lopes (The Portugal Resident) Sources: Diário de Notícias / Sol