It's official: bars and restaurants will charge an extra fee for...

With the arrival of November 2026, the Spanish hospitality and retail sectors will experience a transformation that will cause more than one surprised look among consumers. Bars, restaurants, and supermarkets will have to start charging an extra fee for the bottles and cans they offer, although, contrary to what it seems, it will not be a fixed cost but a refundable deposit.

The measure is part of a system known as the Deposit, Return, and Refund System (SDDR), which aims to reduce waste and promote reuse through a mechanism that requires returning empty containers to recover this small financial contribution.

The new model that will revolutionize packaged beverage consumption

What is the Deposit, Return, and Refund System?

The SDDR is a mechanism that imposes the need to add a deposit for each beverage container sold, which the consumer can recover by returning the empty container. This measure is based on experiences already applied in Portugal, Germany, and Denmark, where it has substantially improved collection and recycling.

The affected containers include plastic bottles, cans, and cartons up to 3 liters, that is, common products such as water, soft drinks, juices, and beer.

How will it affect bars and restaurants?

From the established date, these establishments will have to apply the extra fee per container on the bill and accept the return of containers, even if they were not purchased at the same venue. This implies a new dynamic in service and customer care.

Additionally, collection machines will be installed at strategic points to facilitate the return and recovery of the deposit, while trying to ensure that small businesses also adapt to this regulation.

The European context and the data that have driven the measure

European recycling targets

The European Union requires that at least 70% of beverage container waste be collected and recycled to avoid waste and environmental pollution. However, Spain recorded only a 41.3% rate in 2023, far from the requirement.

This situation has led to the need for stricter measures like the SDDR to avoid sanctions and improve compliance with community directives.

Reactions and challenges for hospitality and distributors

Manufacturers and distributors have requested an extension to adapt, but the Ministry for the Ecological Transition has rejected postponing the enforcement date. The main challenge is ensuring that both large and small establishments can properly manage the new regulation.

The implementation of this system implies a change in waste management and the purchasing experience, which may generate initial tensions but also an improvement in sustainability.

How will deposits and container returns work?

Practical operation of the deposit

Each container will carry an additional cost of 10 cents which will be refundable when the empty container is handed in at stores, bars, or designated machines. This process includes scanning the barcode to verify authenticity and origin.

Consumers will be able to return containers at any authorized point, regardless of where they were purchased, a measure that facilitates participation and recycling.

Adaptation of establishments and collection points

Bars, restaurants, supermarkets, and shops will have to install collection points or accept returns manually. Additionally, automatic machines will be placed in key locations to streamline the process.

According to experts in Official Documentation, this measure represents a step forward in increasing the responsibility of consumers and establishments.

It can also be seen as an opportunity for businesses, which will be able to adapt to a new culture of consumption that is more sustainable and transparent.

The reality is that this change will affect the usual relationship with beverages and their packaging, creating a new era where recycling will no longer be a voluntary act but a routine practice.

For example, in Catalonia, where the culture of official protection and environmental responsibility is on the rise, it is expected that this initiative will find a good fit among more conscious consumers.

The challenge is set: to adapt to a model that, although it may seem inconvenient at first, promises positive changes for the environment and waste management.

The first weeks will be key to seeing the acceptance of this new reality that will undoubtedly mark a before and after in the way packaged beverages are consumed in Spain.