Pfand Bottle Return System in Germany
- The Pfand system aims to promote recycling and reduce waste by incentivizing the return of beverage containers.
- Common deposit amounts range from 8 cents for multi-use bottles to 25 cents for all single-use bottles and cans.
- Certain beverages, such as fruit juices, dairy products, wine, and spirits, are exempt from the deposit requirement.
- The system covers both single-use bottles, like plastic and aluminum, and reusable bottles, including glass and PET.
- The Pfand system has contributed to increased recycling rates and cleaner streets, supporting Germany’s sustainability goals.
Pfand in Germany: Sustainability in Action
Less waste, fewer disposable items: This was the goal associated with the introduction of the disposable deposit on January 1, 2003. Today, the Pfand system in Germany covers a wide range of beverage vessels, including plastic and glass bottles as well as aluminum cans. This expansion of the system has helped increase recycling rates and reduce littering. Overall, the Pfand system continues to play a crucial role in Germany’s efforts to promote sustainability and reduce waste. The success of the Pfand system has also inspired other countries to consider implementing similar measures to address their own waste management challenges.
What is Pfand?
The Pfand system in Germany is a deposit-refund system designed to promote recycling and reduce waste. When you purchase certain beverages in return bottles and cans, you pay a small deposit on top of the product price. This deposit for many bottles is indicated separately on the shelf’s price tag. Once you’ve consumed the product, you can return the empty container to a store or recycling center to receive a refund of the deposit.
The key idea behind Pfand is to incentivize consumers to return their empty containers rather than throwing them away. This helps ensure that the containers are recycled or reused, reducing the environmental impact of single-use containers and single-use packaging. The system has been highly successful in Germany, leading to high rates of can and bottle recycling.
Return Bottles in Germany: Deposit Amounts and Exemptions
In Germany, the Pfand (deposit) system plays a crucial role in promoting recycling and reducing waste. Here are the common deposit amounts for different types of multi-use return bottles in Germany:
- Beer bottles made of glass (all sizes): 8 cents
- Beer bottles with swing top closure: 15 cents
- Mineral water bottle (glass or PET): 15 cents
- Bottles for juice or soft drinks: 15 cents
- Yogurt glasses (Pfand-Glas): 17 cents
- Some 1.0-liter wine bottles: 2 or 3 cents
- All single-use bottles and cans: 25 cents
Completing the confusion are beverages exempt from the deposit requirement. These include fruit juices, dairy products, many bottles of wine, and spirits. The icing on the cake is the regulation that bottles with more than 3 liters of content are generally exempt from the deposit requirement.
Types of Pfand Bottles
In Germany, Pfand is applied to two main types of beverage containers: single-use bottles, which are typically made of plastic or aluminum cans, and reusable bottles, which can be made of glass or plastic. Understanding the differences between these two types of return bottles is essential for consumers navigating the country’s recycling system.
Multi-Use Bottles
Reusable bottles, or Mehrwegflaschen, in Germany are designed to be refilled and reused multiple times, typically up to 50 cycles. These return bottles are usually made of glass or thicker plastic, ensuring durability for multiple uses. The refilling process for Mehrwegflaschen is subject to strict health regulations to maintain hygiene standards. When purchasing beverages in multi-use containers, consumers pay a deposit (Pfand) of 8 to 15 cents per bottle, which is refunded upon returning the empty bottle. Mehrwegflaschen can be identified by logos or words such as “Pfand-Glas”, “Mehrwegflasche”, or “Mehrweg-Pfandflasche”. Examples of reusable bottles include:
- Non-alcoholic glass bottles
- Beer bottles
- Thicker plastic soft drink bottles
- Yogurt glasses
Multi-Use Glass Bottles
Reusable glass return bottles in Germany require a deposit upon purchase and offer several advantages and disadvantages. The biggest advantage of glass vessels is their ability to be refilled up to 50 times, resulting in a long service life. However, their main drawback is their relatively heavy weight, which leads to higher transportation expenses and increased CO2 emissions. Despite this, return bottles are considered environmentally friendly due to their reusability and durability.
The following table outlines the advantages and disadvantages of multiple-use glass return bottles:
- Can be refilled up to 50 times
- Long service life
- Environmentally friendly due to reusability
- Relatively heavy
- Higher transportation expenses
- Increased CO2 emissions
Multi-Use Plastic Bottles
Reusable plastic bottles, which also require a deposit, offer similar advantages and disadvantages to glass bottles. While they can only be refilled around 25 times, they are lighter than many bottles made of glass, resulting in lower transportation expenses and a more positive life cycle assessment. However, like glass vessels, they perform best when their transportation routes are short.
The following table outlines the advantages and disadvantages of reusable plastic bottles:
- Lighter weight
- Lower transportation expenses
- Positive life cycle assessment
- Can only be refilled around 25 times
- Environmental impact of plastic
- Perform best with short transportation routes
Single-Use Bottles
Single-use bottles in Germany, known as Einwegflaschen, are designed for one-time use and are recycled after being returned. Many bottles of that type are typically made of less stable plastic or aluminum. When purchasing beverages in this type of bottle, consumers pay a deposit (Pfand) of 25 cents per bottle, which is refunded upon returning the empty bottle. This system encourages recycling and reduces waste. Einwegflaschen can be identified by logos or words such as “Einweg” or “Einwegflasche”.
Single-Use Plastic Bottles and Cans: A Recycling Challenge
Single-use bottles made of plastic and cans in Germany have been subject to a mandatory deposit since 2003, with nearly all disposable plastic drink bottles and drinks cans included since the start of 2022. This deposit was implemented to curb the disposal of drinks packaging in the environment. However, the deposit does not ensure effective recycling of these items, as they cannot be directly reused. Instead, they must be shredded and processed further, which poses challenges for recycling efficiency. Despite this, the concept of the deposit is a step towards promoting sustainability in the packaging industry.
Disposable bottles, which cannot be cleaned and reused, carry a higher deposit compared to reusable multi-use containers and bottles. This higher deposit serves as a deterrent against purchasing less sustainable packaging. Examples of single-use bottles subject to this deposit include:
- Thin plastic bottles (0.25 Euro)
- Cans of soft drinks like Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite or Red Bull (0.25 Euro)
Single-Use Plastic Bottles: Downcycling Instead of Recycling
Recycling disposable bottles and cans poses challenges due to downcycling, where the material is reused for other purposes instead of being recycled into new bottles and cans. This occurs because the plastic in many bottles may be colored, or the glue on the labels of many bottles may not come off easily. As a result, the material is often used for non-bottle purposes, reducing the overall recycling efficiency of these items.
Complete recycling of disposable bottles and cans is only possible through a comprehensive process. Manufacturers must collect their own bottles, sort them, shred them, and reprocess them into new bottles. This process ensures that the material is reused for its original purpose, contributing to a more sustainable packaging cycle. Consumers can contribute to this process by ensuring that bottles and cans are returned to designated collection points, such as vending machines.
Non-Deposit Bottles
Bottles without a deposit, also known as non-deposit bottles, can still be recycled, but they do not require a deposit to be paid when purchased. These bottles include:
- Milk cartons: These go in the yellow recycling bin. Note that plastic milk bottles usually have a deposit.
- Most wine bottles: These go in the glass recycling bins resp. glass containers.
- Containers with the Grüne Punkt (Green Dot) logo: These go in the yellow recycling bin.
- Bottles purchased in other countries: These should be disposed of according to the local recycling guidelines.
Bottle crates are generally subject to a deposit of 1.50 Euro per crate, with few exceptions. For example, wooden crates may have a deposit of 1.50 to 5.00 Euro. There are always exceptions to the rule. Some manufacturers use different deposit rates for their products.
Pfand Bottle Identification: Here’s How
Disposable bottles or cans subject to a deposit must be clearly marked by the manufacturer in a visible location. The Packaging Act mandates that retailers display clear signage indicating whether the beverage packaging is single-use (Einweg) or multiple-use (Mehrweg).
In the following paragraphs, we will explain the different logos used to indicate bottles subject to a deposit.
Single-Use
Bottles with the logo are filled once, shredded and recycled after being returned. They are almost always made of PET plastic, and their walls are somewhat thinner than those of returnable bottles. Return machines are often available in shops. Ecologically less sensible than reusable bottles.
Multi-Use
PET bottles with this logo are refilled up to 25 times, glass bottles even up to 50 times. Reusable bottles are considered the most environmentally friendly packaging. If they are made of glass, they should ideally come from the region.
PETCycle
This deposit system is still relatively unknown. In simple terms, it involves disposable PET bottles (plastic bottle) in returnable crates. Each plastic bottle consists of 50 percent recycled PET. Regional bottlers and recycling companies are supposed to guarantee short transportation routes with this system.
Green Dot
No deposit bottle, is disposed of in the glass container or yellow garbage can, depending on where you live. Green dot (Grüner Punkt) packaging should be collected so that it can be recycled. From an ecological perspective, less favorable than disposable and reusable packaging.
Return Policy: How and Where to Return Pfand Bottles
Stores that sell Pfand containers are required to accept returns for those specific containers, but they are not required to accept container types they do not sell. For instance, retailers like Aldi and Lidl, which sell only single-use (Einweg) bottles, do not accept multiple-use (Mehrweg) bottles. Larger stores, over 200 m², must accept containers from all brands, not just the ones they sell.
In general, you can return your Pfand Bottles to the store where you purchased them. Every store selling many bottles and cans with a deposit must accept returns for the types of containers they sell. To be accepted for return, the bottles must be in their original condition, without being crushed or lacking a label.
Supermarket
Returning Pfand bottles at the supermarket or grocery store is a common practice in Germany. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Locate the bottle return machine
Look for a bottle return machine (Pfandautomat) at the supermarket. These bottle return machines are usually located near the entrance or at the back of the store. They can be identified by their design, which typically includes a slot for inserting bottles and cans.
Step 2: Insert the bottle
Insert your bottle into the bottle return machine. The machine will scan the barcode or label on the bottle to determine its deposit value so that you can get your money back resp. deposit back.
Step 3: Collect the coupon
The machine will then print a coupon. Take this coupon to the cash register to get your money back resp. receive your Pfand refund.
Step 4: Use the receipt
If the Pfand machine is not functioning correctly, you can hand your bottle to the cashier for your deposit return. However, this process may take longer as the cashier will need to manually process the refund.
The bottle return machines (Leergutautomat) are designed for scanning and collecting bottles. Every so often, there are two separate machines: one for single-use (Einwegflasche) bottles and another for multiple-use (Mehrwegflasche) bottles.
- The single-use bottle machine will scan, accept, and then shred the bottle.
- The multiple-use bottle machine will typically route the bottle to a storage room, where it’s sorted and cleaned for refilling.
Both machines will give you a receipt that you can present to the cashier for your refund.
Returning Pfand bottles at the supermarket or grocery store is a convenient way to help the environment and get a refund on your deposit.
Pfand Return Options Beyond the Supermarket
Discovering additional locations to return your Pfand bottles can be convenient and beneficial. Beyond supermarkets and grocery stores, several other places accept Pfand returns, providing you with more flexibility and options, to get your money back resp deposit back from the cash register. Whether you’re near a beverage store, petrol station, or even a kiosk, knowing these locations can simplify the process and make returning your bottles more accessible.
Beverage Store (Getränkemarkt)
Return your crates and beer or glass water bottles to a beverage store. These stores typically accept returns of containers and crates, ensuring they are properly recycled or refilled.
Spätkauf & Kiosk
While you can return empty bottles at a kiosk, it’s best not to make it a habit of returning large stocks of bottles there. Kiosks may not have the capacity to handle large volumes of returns, and it’s more appropriate to return them at dedicated locations like supermarkets or beverage stores.
Petrol Station
You can return your empty bottles and receive your Pfand refund at any gas station. Gas stations often ha ve a dedicated area or counter where you can return your bottles and receive your refund.
Donate
Some cities have Pfand donation machines that accept used bottles and donate the Pfand to charity. Look out for these machines in places like Frankfurt airport. Donating your Pfand is a great way to support charitable causes while also recycling your bottles.
Leaving empty bottles next to trash cans for Pfandsammler (deposit collectors), is a common practice to help them find bottles easily and earn some extra money.
While this gesture is meant to assist Pfandsammler, it could be misunderstood as littering. It’s important to be mindful of local regulations and consider using designated trash cans or return locations to avoid any potential issues.
FAQ about Deposit Bottles in Germany
While similar deposit return schemes exist in other countries, such as Norway and some states in the United States, the deposit scheme in Germany is one of the most comprehensive and widely implemented deposit systems globally.
But despite its success and the fact, that Germany is heading to a circular economy, environmental organizations such as the German NGO Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) criticize parts of the system as insufficient.
Yes, it’s generally expected that you rinse used bottles resp. empty bottles in Germany before returning them to avoid any odor or residue buildup.