At SDR Portugal, the non-profit Managing Entity (EG) licensed by the APA – Portuguese Environment Agency and by the DGE – Directorate-General for the Economy, for the implementation and management of the Deposit and Return System (SDR) for single-use beverage packaging, up to 3 liters, in Portugal, informs, in a press release, that more than 400 million beverage containers have already been returned through the Volta system since its launch on April 10 this year.
According to the same source, this milestone, continually updated, now gains public visibility on the website www.volta.com.pt, on which a counter on the homepage allows continuously tracking the evolution of returns, making the system’s results accessible to everyone.
The counter is based on the total accumulated number of returned packaging up to the previous day, updated daily. Among these updates, the progression shown by the second is estimated from the daily average of returns in the last week. The methodology is indicated next to the counter, allowing an informed reading of the numbers.
For Leonardo Mathias, President of SDR Portugal, “the more than 400 million packaging returns in less than six months of Volta’s operation unequivocally demonstrate that the system works and that the path must be to continue accelerating with the objective of collecting 90% of the packaging by the end of 2029. This number speaks for itself and reflects the growing participation of citizens, as well as proof of the proper functioning of the network of 3,000 collection points and of all partners involved in the operation. Completing the installation of the supplementary network, with the installation of 38 additional kiosks whose authorization depends exclusively on the municipalities, will, alongside the development of the voluntary network, which is an extension of the system to other locations beyond the legally mandatory ones, cause the returns to increase.”
The official adds that “each return represents a packaging that enters a selective collection circuit intended for recycling and material recovery” and appeals “again to the municipalities, which are a key piece in the system’s success, to speed up their decisions to authorize the installation of kiosks, essential elements to reduce the constraints that have been publicly pointed out to the system.”
“Completing the planned infrastructure, closing the supplementary network and developing the voluntary network, alongside the commitment to continuous improvement, are essential factors for accelerating returns and for mitigating the constraints that have been publicly noted,” reads the note.
The volume of returns achieved “demonstrates that the Volta system is being used and collecting packaging on a large scale.” It is a result that is “concrete and should be valued, but also should be accompanied by equal demands on service quality: the experience of each consumer, the availability of collection points and the ease of return are essential to consolidate participation,” he adds.
The difficulties felt by those seeking to return packaging “deserve attention and response.” Acknowledging them and, at the same time, valuing the results achieved, “are two dimensions of a single responsibility reflected in SDR Portugal’s commitment: to build an ever simpler, accessible, functional and reliable system. Therefore, SDR Portugal’s commitment to providing a Volta experience in continuous improvement and evolution is reiterated,” the same source emphasizes.
By providing this counter, Volta facilitates the public monitoring of the returns and, involving consumers, offers a concrete basis to understand the evolution of the system’s good functioning up to this moment. The milestone of 400 million “evidences the scale already achieved and reinforces the importance of completing the planned infrastructure and continuing to turn the return of packaging into a daily habit.”
Volta Kiosks
The Volta Kiosks, fully funded by SDR Portugal, were designed even before the system’s launch to complement the Volta points network and to facilitate the return of large quantities of packaging, particularly by HoReCa users (Hospitality, Restaurants and Cafeteria) and by other citizens with high volumes.
They allow a simple and rapid return, without the need to insert the packaging individually. With a capacity to collect about 120 packaging items per minute, the kiosks significantly reduce the time required for the return and also have an operator on site, in case assistance is needed.
The installation of kiosks complements the mandatory network of machines and will decisively strengthen collection capacity and effectiveness, reducing the improper disposal of Volta packaging at recycling points and in ordinary trash, minimizing negative externalities at the level of urban cleanliness.
From the system’s preparation phase, SDR Portugal anticipated the installation of 50 kiosks in 38 municipalities, with the aim of reinforcing collection capacity and mitigating potential externalities associated with improper packaging deposition. The installation of kiosks depends exclusively on authorization and space availability by the respective municipalities, so its realization requires coordination between SDR Portugal and the municipal authorities.
Currently, 8 kiosks are installed and in operation, in 8 municipalities (Albufeira, Almada, Barcelos, Cascais, Funchal, Ponta Delgada, Portimão and Vila Nova de Famalicão). SDR Portugal continues to coordinate with the remaining municipalities with the aim of progressively implementing the network planned for this year and next.
Finally, the gradual development of the voluntary network, which needs time to be created and to take effect, is also an integral ingredient of SDR Portugal’s plan to accelerate toward meeting environmental targets each year from now until the end of 2029, which will amount to 90% of all packaging.
The voluntary network allows entities responsible for high-traffic spaces, such as airports, educational establishments, corporate campuses or wholesale establishments, to join Volta by installing automatic packaging return machines, thereby accepting the return of all eligible packaging covered by the system regardless of where they were purchased.
This voluntary expansion of Volta’s presence adds to the mandatory network (machines in legally foreseen commercial establishments) and to the supplementary network (Volta kiosks funded by SDR Portugal that depend on installation authorization by the municipalities) and creates additional return options for consumers, for their benefit and for the environment.
