Spain delays mandatory deposit return system for plastic bottles and cans

Spain is delaying the launch of the Sistema de Depósito, Devolución y Retorno (SDDR), a mandatory deposit and return system for plastic bottles, cans, and bricks.

Although the system was scheduled to begin on November 23, 2024, legal and technical hurdles have prevented its activation. The law required the system to become mandatory because Spain failed to reach a 70% separate collection rate for single-use plastic bottles within two years, achieving only 41.3% by November 2024.

The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge must develop the necessary regulations and oversee the system. However, current political conditions may delay the publication of the draft decree. Additionally, the Comunidad de Madrid must authorize the operators who will manage the network across the country. Potential operators seeking authorization include Ecoembes, Procircular, and CorePET. The SDDR aims to manage approximately 17 billion containers annually through a network of more than 60,000 return points.

This plan includes a network of over 20,000 automatic return machines and between 15 to 25 counting and sorting facilities. Companies in the food and beverage sector, including members of the Asociación SDDR para España, are waiting for a clear regulatory framework and a realistic timeline to plan the necessary investments for these facilities.

The system will charge a deposit of about 10 cents on bottles up to 3 liters, cans, and bricks, which customers will receive back when they return the empty container. While 19 European countries already use similar systems, including Portugal, the scale of the Spanish project is complex due to its 500,000 points of sale and 97 million annual tourists.