Spain delays national deposit-return system launch past 22 November deadline

Spain will miss the 22 November 2026 legal deadline to launch its deposit, return and refund system (SDDR) for drinks containers, after a dispute between the central and Madrid regional governments left none of the four applicant operators authorised. Collection continues through yellow kerbside bins, and Spain could face EU penalties in a little over two years if it fails to recover 90% of the targeted containers.

Why this mattersWithout an authorised operator, fillers, retailers and reverse-vending suppliers cannot plan Spanish deposit-system investment, and bottle collection stays on kerbside bins that reached only 43%.

• Spain's SDDR for drinks cans and bottles up to three litres was due by 22 November 2026 and will not start on time
• Consumers would pay a deposit of about EUR 0.10 per container, refunded on return
• Law 7/2022 sets single-use plastic bottle collection targets of 70% in 2023, 77% in 2025, 85% in 2027 and 90% in 2029
• The 2023 collection rate was just over 43% against the 70% target, triggering the requirement for a deposit scheme
• Ecoembes, Procircular, CorePET and Asociación SDDR have applied to operate the scheme; all are based in Madrid, whose regional government must authorise them
• Sector estimates put required infrastructure at 20,000-35,000 reverse vending machines across about 500,000 points of sale

Relevant to you? Yes No