Do you get money back for bottles and cans in Switzerland?
In most cases, no. Unlike Germany, Switzerland has essentially no general deposit (Pfand) on PET bottles, aluminium cans or single-use glass, so you do not get cash back when you return them. Instead, Migros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Denner and other retailers take PET, glass and aluminium back for free and send them to recycling. A deposit applies only to a few refillable containers, such as some glass beer bottles and crates.
As of June 2026. If you have moved to Switzerland from Germany, you may keep looking for the deposit machine at the supermarket entrance and not find one. That is not an oversight: Switzerland has no general deposit (Pfand) on single-use PET, aluminium cans or single-use glass bottles. You pay a small recycling fee that is already included in the purchase price, but you do not get money back when you return the empties. Despite this, Switzerland is among Europe's recycling leaders. Below we explain why, where you drop off bottles and cans for free, and the rare cases where a deposit does apply.
Why does Switzerland have no bottle deposit like Germany?
The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN/BAFU) sets a minimum recycling rate of 75 percent in the Beverage Container Ordinance. If PET, glass or aluminium fall below that rate, the authorities can introduce a deposit. In practice that has never been necessary: according to BAFU and PET-Recycling Schweiz, the PET recycling rate was 84 percent in 2023, well above the threshold. A mandatory deposit has been debated several times in parliament and rejected so far, partly because the voluntary collection system already works very well. In short: no deposit, because recycling works without one.
The system is funded through an advance recycling fee built into the shelf price, not through a refundable deposit. That is the key difference from the German system. If you want to understand how prices differ between chains in the first place, our price comparison and the head-to-head of Migros vs Coop are good starting points.
Where do I return PET, glass and cans, and what does it cost?
Returns are free. You can hand in PET drink bottles, aluminium cans, glass and often batteries at almost every larger Migros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl and Denner branch at no charge. According to PET-Recycling Schweiz, there are more than 72'000 collection points across Switzerland, of which over 50'000 are voluntary sites. For aluminium cans, Migros and Coop run more than 1'600 return points according to IGORA.
| Material | Deposit? | Return | Rate (source) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PET drink bottles | No | Free at supermarkets and collection points | 84% (BAFU / PET-Recycling Schweiz, 2023) |
| Aluminium cans | No (voluntary reward possible) | Free, 1'600+ points at Migros and Coop | over 90% (IGORA) |
| Single-use glass | No | Free at glass banks and in-store | very high (VetroSwiss) |
| Refillable glass (some beer bottles, crates) | Yes, deposit | At the retailer, refunded | refilled |
Important: put PET only in the PET collection, not in a general plastics bag, and squash the bottles flat to save space. Mineral water glass, deposit-free beer bottles and jars go into the colour-separated glass bank (white, green, brown). Aluminium and tinplate are collected separately through IGORA.
When does a deposit actually come back to you?
A genuine deposit (Pfand) in Switzerland applies only to refillable containers that are filled again. The classic case is certain glass beer bottles together with their crate (Harasse): bring back the empties and the crate, and you get the deposit refunded. Some reusable pilot schemes also use a deposit. According to konsider.ch and the Basler Zeitung, Coop has tested mineral water (Eptinger) in a reusable glass bottle with a CHF 0.50 deposit, and it launched Naturaplan organic whole milk in a reusable glass bottle with a CHF 0.30 deposit (per Coop's 2022 press release). Migros largely does not offer reusable glass bottles. Rule of thumb: if the bottle says Mehrweg (reusable) or Depot, you get money back; otherwise you do not.
Practical tip: sort PET, aluminium and glass separately at home and bring them on your next shopping trip to save errands. Before you plan that trip, it is worth checking the current offers and prices and our guide to paying at Swiss supermarkets.
See it live in Rappn: Rappn is the neutral price-comparison app for Switzerland, with no commercial agreement with any retailer. We compare over 10'000 offers from more than 3'000 supermarkets across Migros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Denner, Aligro and Otto's, 100 percent free. Download Rappn and find out where your favourite drinks are cheapest this week, instead of worrying about a deposit that does not exist.
Sources checked: .
Most Swiss bottles have no deposit, so your savings come from buying well, not returning empties. Rappn compares live prices across every chain. Tap the tabs.
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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, and possible at over 72'000 collection points and most supermarkets (source: PET-Recycling Schweiz).
Why does Switzerland have no deposit on cans and bottles?
Because voluntary recycling rates are high enough. The Beverage Container Ordinance requires 75 percent; PET was at 84 percent in 2023 (BAFU). A deposit would only be needed if the rate dropped below 75 percent.
Where can I return aluminium cans?
Free of charge at Migros and Coop (more than 1'600 points according to IGORA) and at many municipal collection points. Over 90 percent of aluminium cans are recycled in Switzerland.
Is there any deposit at all in Switzerland?
Yes, but only on refillable containers such as certain glass beer bottles with their crate, or specific reusable pilot bottles. If the bottle says Mehrweg or Depot, you get the deposit back from the retailer.
Do I need to rinse PET bottles before returning them?
Just emptying them is enough. Squash the bottles flat and put only drink PET into the PET collection, not other plastic packaging. That keeps the collection clean and easy to recycle.