Do you get money back for bottles and cans in Switzerland?
No, not for single-use containers: Switzerland has no deposit on PET bottles, aluminium cans or single-use glass. A deposit of at least CHF 0.30 is mandatory on refillable beverage containers, and has been since 2001 (Beverage Container Ordinance, VGV, Art. 5 para. 3; from 1 January 2027 Art. 18 para. 2 of the Packaging Ordinance). Returning PET, cans and glass is free: PET-Recycling Schweiz counts about 70'000 collection points (end of 2025). Updated October 2026.
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A deposit (Pfand in German) is an amount you pay on top of a refillable bottle and get back when you return it. If you have moved to Switzerland from Germany, you may look in vain for the deposit machine at the supermarket entrance, and that is no oversight: single-use PET, aluminium cans and single-use glass carry no deposit here, only a recycling fee in the price. For refillable containers the law requires a deposit of at least 30 centimes.
Updated October 2026. Sources: Fedlex (VGV, SR 814.621; Packaging Ordinance, VerpV, AS 2026 358), Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN/BAFU, recovery of beverage packaging 2024), PET-Recycling Schweiz (annual report 2025), viewed on 9 October 2026.
Why does Switzerland have no bottle deposit like Germany?
Because the voluntary collection system meets the legal target. The VGV requires a recovery rate of at least 75 percent each for beverage glass, PET and aluminium (Art. 8 para. 1). If a material falls short, the federal department (DETEC/UVEK) can order a minimum deposit on single-use packaging (Art. 8 para. 2). In 2024 all three minimum rates were met: PET above 84 percent, aluminium cans 90 percent, glass above 95 percent (FOEN).
The law is changing, the principle is not. On 24 June 2026 the Federal Council adopted the Packaging Ordinance (VerpV), which replaces the VGV on 1 January 2027 (Art. 27 and 29). The minimum deposit of 30 centimes on refillable beverage containers is not new: it has applied since 2001 (VGV Art. 5 para. 3) and now sits in Art. 18 para. 2 VerpV. A deposit on single-use packaging stays a reserve option if the 75 percent target is missed (Art. 20). Further stages (2028 to 2032) concern the glass fee, recycling requirements, beverage cartons and single-use plastic.
The system is funded through a fee in the shelf price, not through a refundable deposit: for PET an advance recycling contribution (FOEN), for glass the advance disposal fee of 1 to 10 centimes per bottle (VGV Art. 10 para. 1, now VerpV Art. 9 para. 1).
Most Swiss bottles have no deposit, so your savings come from buying well, not returning empties. Rappn compares the current offers of the seven chains. Tap the tabs.
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Welcome
Where do I return PET, glass and cans, and what does it cost?
| Material | Deposit? | Return | Rate (source) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PET drink bottles | No | Free at collection points in shops and public places | over 84% (FOEN/BAFU, 2024) |
| Aluminium cans | No | Free at IGORA, municipal and retail points | 90% (FOEN/BAFU, 2024) |
| Single-use glass | No | Free at glass banks | over 95% (FOEN/BAFU, 2022 to 2024) |
| Refillable glass (some beer bottles, crates) | Yes, at least CHF 0.30 per container | At the retailer, refunded | refilled |
When does a deposit actually come back to you?
A genuine deposit in Switzerland applies only to refillable containers that are filled again. The classic case is certain glass beer bottles with their crate (Harasse): bring back the empties and the crate, and you get the deposit refunded. The law sets the minimum at 30 centimes per container (VGV Art. 5 para. 3), and the retailer must take back the containers in its range against a refund (para. 1). Exceptions apply to restaurants that organise the collection themselves and to home delivery (para. 2; VerpV Art. 18 para. 3); from 2027 the FOEN can also exempt, on request, the members of an industry organisation running standardised reusable containers (VerpV Art. 18 para. 4).
Refillable containers must be labelled as such, and the deposit charged is shown on the packaging (VGV Art. 4 let. a and b). Rule of thumb: if the bottle says Mehrweg (reusable) or Depot, you get money back; otherwise you do not. On the receipt the deposit appears as its own line; how to read the rest is explained in our guide to reading a Swiss receipt.
Practical tip: sort PET, aluminium and glass separately at home and bring them on your next shopping trip. How prices differ between supermarkets is shown by our price comparison and the head-to-head of two big supermarkets.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do you get money back for PET bottles in Switzerland?
No. There is no deposit on single-use PET in Switzerland, so you do not get cash back when you return them. Returns are free, however, at about 70'000 collection points (PET-Recycling Schweiz, end of 2025).
Why does Switzerland have no deposit on cans and bottles?
Because the recovery targets are met without one. The Beverage Container Ordinance requires 75 percent each for glass, PET and aluminium (Art. 8); PET was above 84 percent in 2024 and aluminium at 90 percent (FOEN/BAFU). A deposit on single-use packaging can only be ordered if a target is missed.
Where can I return aluminium cans?
Free of charge at IGORA collection points, in shops and at municipal collection points. About 90 percent of aluminium cans are recycled in Switzerland (FOEN/BAFU, 2024).
Is there any deposit at all in Switzerland?
Yes, but only on refillable containers such as certain glass beer bottles with their crate. The law sets a minimum of CHF 0.30 per container there (VGV Art. 5 para. 3, from 2027 VerpV Art. 18 para. 2). If the bottle says Mehrweg or Depot, you get the deposit back from the retailer.
Does the deposit change in 2027?
Not the amount: the Packaging Ordinance replaces the VGV on 1 January 2027 and carries over the minimum deposit of CHF 0.30 on refillable beverage containers (Art. 18 para. 2). A deposit on single-use PET, aluminium or glass can still only be ordered if a 75 percent target is missed (Art. 20 para. 2).
Do I need to rinse PET bottles before returning them?
What is asked for is empty bottles: empty them, squash them flat and put the cap back on, as PET-Recycling Schweiz recommends. Only drink bottles with the PET symbol belong in the PET collection, not oil, vinegar or shampoo bottles.