How Bottle Deposits (Pfand) System works in Germany - [2024]

The Pfandsystem is encouraged by many countries so they can recycle used plastic and glass bottles to avoid a lot of wastes. If you buy a beverage from a retailer who participates in this system, you must pay a ‘pfand’ to fund the program. All beverage containers must be registered with the Pfand system that determines the value of the bottle. This helps to outline the recycling procedures properly. If you return the empty bottle, you will get your deposit and the market value of the bottle.

Pfand Defined

Pfand system is for deposit in Germany in which you deposit for bottles and get a refund when returned to the collection facility registered at Pfand system. This not only reduces the waste but also encourages people to be part of recycling.

Kinds of Pfand

Here are the two kinds of Pfand in Germany;

Multi-Use Bottles (Mehrweg)

Glass and plastic bottles are recycled according to different regulations. According to the Pfand system, you can recycle glass bottles up to 50 times before wasting them whereas plastic bottles can last for just 10-12 recycling attempts. These bottles include beer bottles, soft drink bottles, nonalcoholic glass bottles, and yogurt packages. You need to pay 8 to 15 cents per bottle for the deposit for these bottles. ‘Pfand-Glas’, ‘Mehrwegflasche’ or ‘Mehrweg-Pfandflasche’ is written on these bottles.

Single Cans and Bottles (Einweg)

Multi use bottles are environmentally friendly but there are some scenarios in which you cannot recycle cans or bottles multiple times because of the less stable plastic which can be damaged when recycled. These bottles are made up of Plastic and include cans too. ‘Eineweg’ or ‘Einwegflasche’ is written on these bottles and you would deposit 25 cents each.

Collection Points for Pfand Bottles

A lot of places have a return policy and collect the pfand bottles for recycling but you must return it in the same condition as received. A few places include;

Beverage Stores

Pfand is a system in which you get a refund when bottles are returned. Get your deposit back after returning it to any beverage store and show your Pfand receipt.

Supermarkets

You can find bottle return machines at supermarkets, – where you can deposit plastic bottles and cans for recycling and save coupons to save on future costs.

Kiosks, Büdchen or Spätis

Beer is very common in Germany so you can always find kiosks where you get beer at a lower rate compared to the restaurants but higher rate than supermarkets. Think about the expense you made on buying these bottles and getting a refund on empty bottles.

Unofficial Pfandsammler

You can also leave bottles with deposits near trash cans in Germany. It is the most common practice in Germany and deposit collectors collect these bottles.

Shops with Pfand Logo

Return your Pfand bottles to the shops where you find relevant stickers, Pfand symbols, or a Pfand machine.

Identification of Pfand Bottles

Each Pfand bottle has a label or logo on it. If you cannot find it, the bottle might be produced by a small brewery. “Pfand-Glas” is the most common label on each Pfand bottle. If the bottle does not have a Pfand, “Pfandfrei” will be used for it.

Final Remarks

The Pfand system is a deposit based recycling system in Germany to encourage people to recycle their plastic cans or bottles. There are a lot of bottle return stations across Germany where you can return the old bottle, get a refund (usually 10%), and purchase the new one.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What amount do you get back from recycling?

The amount of money depends on the pfand paid when you purchased your bottles. The deposit is €0.15 for a 500mL soft drink bottle whereas €0.25 for 1.5L.

How to identify that you have paid a pfand (deposit) on your purchased bottle?

You can easily identify by checking your receipt after purchasing a bottle.

What if the recycling machine is not working?

Here are the two things to do, if the recycling machine does not work.

Full Machine

If there is a “stop” sign on the machine’s display, empty it or speak to an employee.

Fault in The Machine

If the machine has some fault, place your bottle on the belt, and get cash from the cashier who will manually count and dispose of your bottle. The total deposit amount will be deducted from your final receipt.