The managing entity of the Deposit and Refund System (SDR), which operates under the brand Volta, is reinforcing the packaging collection network outside supermarkets. Almost five months after the system launched on April 10, six Volta kiosks are already operational, and agreements have been signed with six more municipalities for the implementation of these structures.
Cascais now has an operational kiosk, joining Albufeira, Barcelos, Funchal, Ponta Delgada and Vila Nova de Famalicão. The next six kiosks are expected to arrive in Almada, Aveiro, Mafra, Oeiras, Portimão and Vila do Conde. SDR Portugal aims to reach 50 units distributed across 38 municipalities.
The kiosks are designed mainly for restaurants, cafés, hotels and other establishments in the Horeca sector, allowing large quantities of packaging to be returned at once. Each unit has the capacity to collect about 120 packages per minute. Installation depends on coordination with municipalities, as these structures are placed in public spaces.
The collection network offers three alternatives for Horeca establishments: Volta kiosks, automatic points available mainly in supermarkets and hypermarkets, and direct collection service, through which SDR collects packaging directly from the establishment. The network of automatic points has grown from about 2,500 to more than 3,000 collection points. The system covers single-use beverage packaging up to three liters, with a ten-cent deposit per package.
