The extra cost will be refunded to consumers who place their packaging in machines installed in commercial establishments or at manual collection points.
To journalists, the Minister of the Environment, Maria da Graça Carvalho, announced that 2,500 machines and 12,500 collection points will be deployed nationwide, with collection points located in supermarkets across Portugal.
The Minister also announced that plastic bags used for fruit and vegetable sales will be replaced. However, it is currently unclear whether consumers will need to purchase replacement mesh or fabric bags or whether they will be offered replacements.
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Yet another money making scam.are you telling me that a sardine tin is worth 10 cents.
If you take a bag of tins for recycling do you get the refund in cash or do you get a voucher to spend in the issuing shop.
I would be very suspicious of this.
Don't put on a recycling surcharge just take them to a recycling centre.
This is a money making excersise invented by the government so they can screw you over and get more money off you.
By Peter from Other on 15 Jan 2026, 11:00
This was implemented in Ireland a few years back and is just a money making scheme for whoever gets the contract for the returns. Most of the bottles in Ireland still end up in incineration plants so no benefit to the environment . Portugal has a much better recycling scheme with their bins and don't need this. It's an EU enforced scheme and a scam
By Chris from Algarve on 15 Jan 2026, 21:15