Deposit Return System: the vending sector prepares for the 2029 European deadline

Buying a drink and returning the empty container to reclaim the deposit paid. This is the principle behind the Deposit Return System (DRS), a model already in operation in several European countries which, ahead of the 2029 deadline set by the European Union, is also opening up new prospects for the vending sector. From payment integration to collection technologies, the journey of a drink extends beyond consumption, involving expertise and services across the entire supply chain.

European figures show the scale of this development. In Denmark, according to Dansk Retursystem, around 2.2 billion containers were returned in 2025, with a return rate of 92%. In Ireland, where the system was launched in February 2024, its first full year of operation ended in 2025 with 1.435 billion bottles and cans returned and more than 30,900 tonnes of material sent for recycling.

PPWR: a 90% collection target by 2029

The next step is set out in EU Regulation 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste, known as the PPWR. By 1 January 2029, Member States must ensure the separate collection of at least 90% by weight per year of single-use plastic beverage bottles and single-use metal beverage containers with a capacity of up to three litres. To achieve this target, deposit return systems are envisaged, with specific exclusions and the possibility of exemptions. A national exemption requires a collection rate of at least 80% in 2026 and the submission to the European Commission, by 1 January 2028, of a request and a plan to achieve the 90% target.

RecoPet: automated collection engages consumers

Initiatives combining automated collection with consumer participation are also developing in Italy. One example is RecoPet, a project promoted by COREPLA to collect PET bottles separately and encourage bottle-to-bottle recycling. According to figures released by the Consortium in February 2026, the project had reached 500 installed reverse vending machines, more than 15 million bottles collected and over 100,000 app subscribers. By returning their bottles, users earn points and gain access to rewards and benefits. This is a different mechanism from the DRS, which refunds a deposit paid at the time of purchase, but it provides a practical example of how recognition technologies, digital management and user engagement can be integrated.

Vending and DRS: from technologies to new return models

For the vending sector, preparing for the DRS means distinguishing between deposit management and the organisation of container returns. The sale of beverages covered by the system will require the deposit to be integrated into payment systems and consumer information, while collection must comply with the rules of the national scheme. European regulations do not require a reverse vending machine next to every vending machine: they allow for alternative, authorised and equally accessible return channels and take into account the space limitations of retail premises, while maintaining the principle that containers for products sold must be taken back. It will therefore be important to identify sustainable arrangements for smaller vending locations too. In universities, hospitals and large corporate sites, automated technologies could instead support the development of shared return points, to be assessed according to volumes and service organisation.

It is in this context that Venditalia 2028, taking place from 3 to 6 May at Fiera di Rimini, can become a strategic event in preparing for the European deadline. The exhibition brings together vending operators, beverage manufacturers, machine manufacturers and payment system providers: complementary areas of expertise that make it possible to compare technologies, assess integrations and guide investment decisions. The opportunity will be to translate the regulatory framework into operational choices, extending the contribution of the vending sector to the circular economy.

Subscribe to our the newsletter to stay updated with the latest news from Venditalia: SUBSCRIBE HERE

Leggi la versione italiana QUI