The Beverage Container Refund Scheme

Learning New Ways of Recycling Together!

Every single-use beverage container carries a refundable €0.10 deposit. Return it at any Reverse Vending Machine or participating retailer across Malta & Gozo — and get it back, every time.

Find a Return Point Check if your container can be recycled
€0.10 refundable deposit on every container
0M+ beverage containers collected in the scheme's debut year
0 materials accepted — PET plastic, metal and glass
0.1–3L container capacity in scope of the Scheme

The Beverage Container Circular Economy System

How the Deposit Refund System works

The Beverage Container Refund Scheme incentivises the return of single-use beverage containers by applying a refundable deposit on the sale of beverages — a circular system that entices returns while gathering containers for sorting and onward sale as recyclable materials.

  1. 01

    Producer / Importer

    A €0.10 deposit is added at producer or importer stage and paid into a deposit account managed by BCRS Malta.

  2. 02

    Retailer

    The deposit is charged to retailers at the wholesale stage, who transfer it onto the consumer at purchase.

  3. 03

    You return it

    Return your empty container to an approved redemption point — a retailer or a Reverse Vending Machine.

  4. 04

    Full refund

    Your €0.10 deposit is refunded immediately upon return, paid out by BCRS Malta through the deposit account.

  5. 05

    New life

    Containers travel to the BCRS clearing centre for sorting and onward sale as recyclable materials.

In scope

What beverages form part of the Scheme?

  • Water and flavoured water
  • Non-Carbonated Soft Drinks
  • Carbonated soft drinks
  • Ciders, beers and other malt beverages
  • Ready to drink coffee
  • Flavoured alcoholic beverages not exceeding 5% alcohol
  • Dilutables

Materials

Container materials in the Scheme

Plastic

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Metal

Steel and Aluminium

Glass

Clear and non-clear glass

Container capacity between 0.1 and 3 litres. Refillable containers are not collected by BCRS.

Quick check

Can I recycle this beverage container at a Reverse Vending Machine?

Enter the barcode number on the product in the search field below.

Look for the BCRS 10c deposit logo on the label — if it's there, it's refundable.

Learning New Ways of Recycling Together!

The Beverage Container Refund Scheme, explained

How to use your BCRS Establishment Card at Public Recycling Hubs Journey of a beverage container from Purchase to Deposit at a Reverse Vending Machine DRS Manager answers Frequently Asked Questions about the Scheme BCRS Head of Administration answers Frequently Asked Questions about BCRS Reverse Vending Machines BCRS Head of Operations answers Frequently Asked Questions about the BCRS Clearing Centre
Read Our Full FAQs

For businesses

Part of the beverage chain? Register with the Scheme.

Producers, importers, retailers and catering establishments participate in the Scheme through the BCRS corporate portal — memberships, establishment subscriptions and product registration all happen in one place.

Register Here Browse Memberships

For everyone

Your empties are worth something.

Find your nearest Reverse Vending Machine, return your beverage containers, and get your deposit back in full — instantly.

Find a Return Point How to Participate