Slovakia launched its deposit return system in 2022 and is widely recognised as one of Europe’s most successful recent implementations. Developed through collaboration between beverage producers, retailers and government, the scheme has achieved consistently high return rates and become a leading example for countries considering similar legislation.
| Launch | January 2022 |
| Deposit | €0.15 |
| Operator | Správca zálohového systému |
Related resources
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Deposit return systems: UK perspective
In this short film, produced with Marine Conservation Society, we find out what the UK can learn from deposit systems in Europe.
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Inside Latvia’s Deposit Return System
Joint film from Marine Conservation Society and Reloop on their field trip to Latvia to learn about their deposit return system and the positive impact it is having on their beaches.
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Inside Austria’s Deposit Return System
Austria’s mandatory single-use deposit return system started on 1 January 2025, and within its first year reached a 81.5% collection rate, with over 1.2 billion containers collected.
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Inside Demark’s Deposit Return System
Joint film from Marine Conservation Society and Reloop on their field trip to Denmark to learn about their deposit return system and the city-wide REUSABLE cup systems in Aarhus.
