Nov 15, 20224 min read

Was ist Pfand? – A Guide to Recycling Bottles in Germany and Getting Your Money Back

It’s no secret that Germans are big on recycling. In fact, 56% of all municipal waste is recycled, making Germany the nation with the highest recycling rate in the world, outperforming the likes of Austria, South Korea, and Wales. While their recycling success can be attributed to German reuse culture at large, such a feat would not have been possible without the robust recycling system found across the state. In this article, we’ll delve into one of the most important (and equally confusing) parts of the German recycling system: Pfand.

What is Pfand and how does it work?

As the German-English translation suggests, Pfand is a deposit you pay on select bottles and cans in Germany. When you buy products marked with the Pfand symbol, such as a Coke from your local Späti (‘late purchase’ shop), you will pay a deposit on top of the product price. When you return the empty bottle to a Pfandautomat (bottle return machine), for example, you will be refunded this deposit in full, and the bottle will be recycled or sanitized, refilled, and sold again. Pretty cool, right?

What types of bottles have a ***Pfand*? And more importantly, how much money can I get back?**

Two different types of containers in Germany have a deposit (Pfand):

Mehrweg (multi-use bottles), and
Einweg (single-use bottles and cans)

Mehrweg (Multi-Use Bottles)

Mehrweg bottles are typically made of glass or thick plastic. Refilled as many as 50 times before they’re recycled, these bottles are in constant circulation. Don’t worry about germs, though; businesses refilling these bottles must abide by strict health regulations outlining the sanitation process. Here are a few examples of Mehrweg bottles and their corresponding Pfand:

To identify Mehrweg bottles with a Pfand, look for the following logos or the words ‘Pfand-Glas’, ‘Mehrwegflasche’, or ‘Mehrweg-Pfandflasche’.

Einweg (Single-Use Bottles and Cans)

Einweg bottles and cans are designed to be used only once and are therefore recycled (instead of reused) when returned. As revealed in GEA’s most recent article on single-use plastic bottles and the GEA x ESCP Thermos, 91% of all plastic worldwide is not recycled. Aware of this grim truth, the Deutsche Pfandsystem GmbH has doubled down on its efforts to ensure proper recycling of single-use containers, levying a 0.25€ Pfand on each bottle and can.

To identify Einweg bottles with a Pfand, look for the following logos or the words ‘Einweg’ or ‘Einwegflasche’.

Pfand-less (Deposit Free) Bottles

Unfortunately, you can’t get money back for every mehrweg and einweg bottle you purchase. Bottles and cans without a Pfand typically take the following forms:

Spirit/liquor bottles
(Most) Wine bottles
Milk and juice containers (e.g. Tetra-Pack)
Containers with the Grüne Punkt logo — these go in the yellow recycling bin
Bottles purchased in other countries

To dispose of these containers, use the normal bins in your building. Plastic milk and juice containers go in the yellow bin, while glass bottles should be sorted according to their color (green, brown, transparent).

Where can I return my bottles and claim my Pfand?

In Germany, businesses that sell Pfandflaschen must accept Pfand returns. In practice, this means you can return your deposit bottles exactly where you bought them.

Have a mixed bag of Pfandflaschen of different types and from different stores? Keep in mind that businesses are only required to accept the types of bottles they sell. Aldi and Lidl, for example, only sell Einweg (single-use) bottles, so they do not accept Mehrweg (multi-use) bottles. Interesting note for the spatially-aware reader: if a store is larger than 200 m², it must accept bottles and cans from all brands, not just the brands it sells.

You can return your Pfand bottles at the following places:

Supermarkets: Look for a Pfandautomat (bottle return machine) near the entrance or the back of the store. Before putting your bottles in, make sure they aren’t crushed and that the label is clearly visible. Put one bottle in after another and the screen will count up your total deposit. When you’ve returned all your bottles and pressed the button to indicate you’re done, the machine will print a coupon with your deposit’s value, which you can redeem at the cash register. This coupon is only valid at the supermarket where you have returned the bottles, and its expiration date can vary. Best practice is to redeem the receipt on the same day you recycle the bottles. Make returning your bottles and collecting Pfand a part of your grocery store routine!

Getränkemärkte (Beverage Stores): Want to feel like a real German? Head down to your local Getränkemarkt and buy your beer and soft drinks in a Kiste (crate). Return the glass bottles (and the Pfand-levied crate) once they’re empty and receive your deposit back, or roll the deposit value into your next purchase. These beverage stores will also return your deposit for mehrweg bottles purchased elsewhere, and sometimes accept your einweg bottles, too!
Spätis (Convenience/‘Late Purchase’ Shop): Spätis will accept bottles they sold you, but don’t make a habit out of returning large quantities of bottles here.
Charities: Certain charities accept bottle donations and will even come to you to pick them up. To contact a nearby charity deposit collector, visit Pfandgeben.
Pfandsammler (Unofficial Deposit Collectors): When walking down the streets of Berlin, it is common to see glass bottles left next to public trash bins. While you might perceive this as just another representation of humanity’s laziness, it is actually the act of conscious beverage consumers looking out for Pfandsammler, or people who collect empty bottles to earn a bit of money. By leaving your Pfandflaschen next to or under a trash bin, Pfandsammler can collect it more easily and don’t have to rummage through the bin.

Conclusion

I hope this article gives you a better understanding of how the Pfandsystem works in Germany. Though it may seem complicated at first, it is a reliable system that extends the life cycle of glass and plastic bottles, permitting container reuse and ensuring their proper recycling. In this way, not only does the Pfandsystem promote circular business models, but it also prevents plastics from ending up in landfills or breaking down into harmful nanoplastics in our oceans. Help protect the environment and get your hard-earned money back – return your Pfandflaschen today!