Anyone who has traveled from Germany to Italy knows the experience: simply returning empty bottles and cans to a machine and getting the deposit back. In Italy, this system has so far been nowhere to be found. Yet a bottle deposit could soon become reality in Italy, driven by a new EU regulation. Here is a look at what lies behind the issue, what an Italian deposit system might look like, and what could change for consumers.
Is there a bottle deposit in Italy?
The short answer: No. Unlike in Germany, Italy currently has no national deposit system for single-use beverage containers. In Italian, such a system is called "vuoto a rendere" or "deposito cauzionale" (internationally: Deposit Return System, DRS). So far, there are only isolated pilot projects with reverse vending machines (eco-compattatori), but no nationwide deposit requirement. Anyone buying a plastic bottle or can in Italy pays no deposit surcharge and typically disposes of the empty container through the recycling system (raccolta differenziata).
What the EU requires
The decisive push is coming from Brussels. The EU packaging regulation PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) has been in force since February 2025 and will become fully applicable as of August 12, 2026. It requires member states to achieve a separate collection rate of at least 90 percent for single-use plastic bottles and beverage cans (up to 3 liters) by January 1, 2029, and generally mandates a deposit system to achieve this goal. In doing so, the EU is backing a model that has already proven effective in many countries.
There is one exception: countries that already achieve 80 percent separate collection of beverage containers by 2026 may apply for an exemption from the deposit requirement. This is precisely where Italy's problem lies. The collection rate for plastics stands at only around 68 to 70 percent (as of 2024), well below the required threshold. On top of that, the share of recycled plastic in new bottles was most recently around 20 percent, falling short of the EU target of 25 percent. For Italy, a bottle deposit system is therefore becoming increasingly hard to avoid.
How the deposit system in Italy is expected to work
The planned system resembles the German model: at the point of purchase, the consumer pays a small deposit on top of the product price. It is intended to apply to single-use beverage containers made of plastic and aluminum, ranging in size from 0.1 to 3 liters. The deposit is refunded once the empty container is returned at a store or at a designated reverse vending machine (at a supermarket , for example). The goal is to collect as many bottles and cans as possible in a clean, sorted manner, rather than letting them end up in general waste or in the environment.
Germany is considered a pioneer when it comes to deposits. The single-use deposit of 0.25 euros on plastic bottles and cans was introduced in 2003; for reusable bottles, the deposit typically ranges from 0.08 to 0.15 euros depending on the container type. The result is one of the highest return rates in the world, with the vast majority of deposit-bearing containers coming back and being recycled. It is precisely this efficiency that makes the model so attractive to other EU countries. For German consumers, an Italian deposit system would be nothing new but familiar territory.
EU countries that already have a deposit system
Italy would be by no means a pioneer, but rather a latecomer. Deposit systems for single-use beverage containers have long been established in numerous EU and European countries, including, of course, Germany, the Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, and the Baltic states. More recently, Ireland and Romania among others introduced new systems. The EU regulation is now ensuring that such a deposit system gradually becomes a European standard, and Italy is among the larger countries that still lack one.
The environmental dimension carries particular weight in Italy. The country consumes roughly 450,000 to 470,000 metric tons of PET annually for beverage packaging alone. What is not properly collected too often ends up as litter in the countryside or in the sea. The Mediterranean is one of the most heavily plastic-polluted seas in the world, and discarded bottles and cans contribute significantly to this problem. A deposit system creates a financial incentive for returning containers and can noticeably reduce so-called littering, that is, the careless disposal of waste. This would be a direct benefit for Italy's famous beaches and coastlines.
How far along is the political process?
The issue is in motion. Since 2025 and 2026, several legislative proposals have been put forward; in January 2026, a cross-party supported proposal was introduced in the Environmental Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. A final decision has yet to be made. What is clear: with the EU deadline looming, pressure is mounting, and 2026 could prove to be a turning point for the bottle deposit in Italy.
What this means for consumers and travelers to Italy
For now, nothing changes in everyday life: anyone shopping in Italy currently pays no bottle deposit and separates packaging waste as usual through the raccolta differenziata. In the medium term, however, it is reasonable to expect that Italy will also introduce a deposit system, with a deposit at the point of purchase and returns at a machine, just as Germans have long been accustomed to. For environmentally conscious travelers, that would be good news: less plastic waste in the countryside and at sea.
Frequently asked questions about the bottle deposit in Italy (FAQ)
Is there currently a bottle deposit system in Italy? No. A national deposit system does not yet exist. Empty bottles and cans are disposed of through the waste sorting system (raccolta differenziata).
When could a deposit system come to Italy? No exact date has been set. The main driver is the EU regulation PPWR, which takes full effect on August 12, 2026, and requires high collection rates by 2029. Several legislative proposals are already before parliament.
How high would the deposit be? That is still open. The proposals call for a deposit on single-use beverage containers made of plastic and aluminum, ranging from 0.1 to 3 liters, to be refunded upon return.
What changes for vacationers? Nothing for now. Those visiting Italy pay no deposit. Once a system is introduced, it will work as in Germany: a deposit paid at purchase, returned at a machine or in-store.
