Spain set November 2026 as the deadline for the entry into force of the Deposit, Return and Refund System (SDDR) for plastic packaging and cans in supermarkets and shops that sell packaged beverages. However, this deadline will not be met, as the administrative machinery necessary to guarantee this system has not yet been set in motion.
Portugal, on the other hand, has already implemented its system in April and is obtaining remarkable results. Recycling and reuse rates have skyrocketed, drastically reducing the number of bottles that end up in nature.
The Portuguese model demonstrates that it is possible to transform the collection of plastic bottles into a lucrative activity for citizens, who can take them to supermarkets and receive a value in return. This success contrasts with the Spanish delay in creating the necessary infrastructure for the system.
