Retorna, Zero Waste Europe and Reloop are organising the Global Conference of Experts bringing together leading national and international experts and professionals in deposit return systems (DRS).
This one-day event will bring together prominent experts and professionals in the field of Deposit and Return Systems (DRS) for the collection, reuse and recycling of beverage containers, to present main issues and debate around the upcoming system to be established in Spain.
Agenda
Opening session with representatives from the European Commission and the Ministry for Ecological Transition of Spain.
Morning session: strategic presentations and discussions.
Afternoon session: presentation and discussions with all social agents.
Event Details
Location: NH Zurbano Hotel, Zurbano Street, 79–81, 28003, Madrid
Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Format: In-person / online
(Spanish–English simultaneous translation)
Registration
Please register whether you are attending in person or online.
Full Programme
9:00am – 9:25am – Welcome coffee
9:30am – 10:15am | Institutional Opening
Opening session with representatives from the European Commission and Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge.
Participants:
- Ana Gutiérrez | Retorna
- Jessika Roswall | EU Commissioner Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
- Alejandro Dorado Nájera | Commissioner for the Circular Economy from the Ministry of Ecological Transition of Spain
10:15am – 11:00am | DRS momentum: impacts driving circular change
Unlocking materials, impacting municipalities, and eliminating litter: Why DRS matters around the world.
Participants:
- Clarissa Morawski | Reloop – Unlocking materials, eliminating litter: Why DRS matters for producers
- Anna Larsson | Reloop – From burden to benefit: how cost principles shape municipal impact
- Martin Valese | Global DRS Platform – Global South and DRS
- Xavier Curto | Surfrider – The benefits of a DRS for the oceans
- Q&A
11:00am – 12:00noon | A successful DRS: the case of Spain
Insights from the best DRS systems in Europe for single-use and refillable containers.
Participants:
- Miquel Roset | Retorna
- Rauno Raal | Earth Care Consulting – The insights of the better DRS systems
- Monika Fiala | Recycling Pfand Österreich – Recycling Pfand Österreich. DRS for reuse and single-use
- Nicholas Hodac | UNESDA – Overview of DRS Playbook
- Carlos Arribas | Ecologistas en Acción – The benefits of mixed DRS
- Q&A
12:00noon – 12:30pm | Networking break
12:30pm – 1:30pm | The legal path: from Brussels to Madrid
The legal framework to ensure the achievement of EPR and separate collection targets for beverage containers.
Participants:
- Joan Marc Simon | Zero Waste Europe
- Juan José Pernás | Universidade da Coruña – The legal framework to ensure the achievement of the separate collection targets for beverage containers
- Ignasi Puig | Fundación ENT – DRS, reuse and EPR targets
- Arancha Bengoechea | Andersen – Legal security for all stakeholders
- Q&A
1:30pm – 2:00pm | The Spanish DRS process
Speaker:
- Antonio Romero | SDDR España
2:05pm – 3:15pm | Lunch and networking
3:15pm – 4:30pm | Key DRS perspectives
A multi-stakeholder vision for shaping the Spanish DRS from all perspectives:
Municipalities: Jesús Pérez | Ayuntamiento de Getafe
Recyclers: Victòria Ferrer | Gremi Recuperació de Catalunya
Civil society: Rosa García | Rezero
Trade unions: Sara García | USO
Retailers: Marta Julià | PIMEC
4:30pm – 4:45pm | Closing session
Speakers:
- Joan Marc Simón | Zero Waste Europe
- Clarissa Morawski | Reloop
- Miquel Roset | Retorna
This event is supported by the European Alliance for Best-in-Class Deposit Return Systems
