Government of Navarra | 200 000 containers recovered in three-month deposit return pilot

Sangüesa municipality has successfully recovered over 200 000 bottles and cans in just three months through a pioneering Deposit Return System (DRS) pilot project led by the Government of Navarra’s Environment Department in collaboration with the local Mancomunidad. The initiative, which applied a EUR 0.10 refundable deposit to beverage containers under three liters, achieved an 86% acceptance rate at reverse vending machines, a significant rise from under 50% at its launch. Ten local businesses actively participated, and the project saw strong engagement from residents, who returned containers for reimbursement at designated collection points. 

The program aimed to promote separate collection of beverage containers, reduce litter, and advance circular economy practices by encouraging reuse and high-quality recycling. A final community event in Sangüesa celebrated the project’s success with educational activities, live demonstrations, and local product prizes. Organisers will now evaluate results and explore the system’s potential expansion to other regions in Navarra.

Source: www.navarra.es (in Spanish)