You pick up a bottle of water in a German supermarket, glance at the shelf label, and spot a small line of text under the price: zzgl. 25 Cent Pfand. At the checkout, the total is a little higher than you expected. Later, standing by a wall of recycling bins with an empty bottle in your hand, you notice a man quietly checking each bin for bottles. And near the supermarket entrance, a row of machines is swallowing bottles one by one and printing receipts.
Welcome to Pfand, one of the most visible and least explained parts of everyday life in Germany. It’s a deposit system, and once you understand it, it takes about ten seconds a day. This guide covers how it works, how much it costs, and where to return your empties.
What Is Pfand?
Pfand means “deposit.” When you buy a drink in a deposit bottle or can, a small extra charge is added to the price. When you return the empty container, you get that money back. The system’s goal is to get bottles and cans back to be recycled or reused instead of ending up in the trash or on the street.
Deposit schemes aren’t a German invention. Records suggest the idea of paying a deposit on glass bottles appeared in Sweden in 1885, and German beer dealers began using it in 1903. Germany introduced its well-known deposit on cans and disposable bottles in 2003. Today, the rules are set by the Packaging Act (Verpackungsgesetz), which came into force in 2022.
Two Systems: Einweg and Mehrweg
German deposits come in two types, and the difference determines how much you pay and where you can return them.
| Einweg (single-use) | Mehrweg (reusable) | |
|---|---|---|
| Container | Plastic bottles, cans, and certain glass bottles | Glass or sturdy plastic bottles meant to be refilled |
| Deposit | Always 25 cents | Usually 8 to 15 cents, sometimes more |
| What happens next | Crushed and recycled into new material | Cleaned and refilled many times |
| How to spot it | A Pfand logo from the Deutsche Pfandsystem (DPG) on the label | Embossed or labeled as reusable, often in crates |
| Where to return | Any shop that sells single-use bottles | Shops that sell that bottle type or brand |
Typical Mehrweg deposits (from consumer and industry sources):
- Glass beer bottles: 8 cents
- Mineral water bottles (glass or plastic): 15 cents, sometimes 25
- Juice and soft drink bottles: 15 cents
- Swing-top beer bottles: 15 cents, sometimes higher
- Reusable yoghurt jars: 15 cents, with larger ones costing up to 50 cents
Crates also carry their own deposit, typically between one and a few euros on top of the bottles. If you buy a full crate of beer or water, the Pfand adds up quickly.
What Has No Pfand?
Not every container is covered. In general, most wine and spirit bottles, many glass jars, and cartons don’t carry a deposit. Glass without a deposit goes into the public glass containers (Altglascontainer), which are sorted by color: white, green, and brown. These containers have quiet hours, so don’t drop bottles in at night or on Sundays. See our guide to quiet hours in Germany.
The DPG publishes a list of deposit-bearing drinks if you’re unsure.
How to Return Bottles: Step by Step
Most supermarkets have a Pfandautomat, a reverse vending machine, usually near the entrance.
- Check the bottle or can. It needs to be empty and have the deposit logo and barcode visible.
- Don’t crush it. Machines scan the barcode and shape, so a flattened can may be rejected.
- Feed the machine. Place each item in the opening, one at a time, with the barcode facing the scanner. The machine will pull it in.
- Press the button when you’re finished. The machine prints a Pfandbon (deposit receipt).
- Hand the voucher to the cashier and the amount is deducted from your bill or paid out in cash.
Some good-to-know details:
- The Pfandbon is branch-specific. According to consumer advice, a voucher can only be redeemed at the branch where it was issued.
- Single-use deposits can be returned elsewhere. Retailers that sell single-use bottles must take them back and pay out 25 cents, even if the drinks were bought in a different shop. Smaller shops under 200 square meters have narrower rules, so a corner store may only accept what it sells.
- Donation option. Many machines let you donate your deposit to charity instead of collecting it.
- Crates and Mehrweg bottles go back to the drinks aisle or a drinks store, where staff exchange them for the deposit.
- Bottles from abroad don’t count. Containers bought in other countries typically aren’t accepted.
The Pfandsammler: A Quiet Social Reality
You’ll notice people, often older, collecting bottles from public bins in cities. They’re called Pfandsammler (deposit collectors), and for many, the 25 cents per bottle is a meaningful supplement to a small income.
German cities have developed a polite etiquette around this. If you don’t want to return a bottle yourself, place it next to the bin, not in it, so it’s easy to collect. In some cities, bins have a Pfandring, a small ring fixed to the side where you can leave bottles. The idea of the ring is credited to a designer in Cologne in the early 2010s. It lets collectors avoid reaching into rubbish, and it’s a small gesture of respect.
Pfand Beyond Bottles
The deposit idea has spread into other parts of daily life:
- Christmas market mugs. Mulled wine is served in a deposit mug, which you can return for your money or keep as a souvenir. See our guide to Germany’s Christmas markets.
- Festivals and stadiums. Cups often carry a deposit to cut down on litter.
- Takeaway containers. Since 2023, larger takeaway businesses are required to offer a reusable container option, and various reuse systems have appeared in cafes and restaurants.
- Shopping carts. Many supermarket trolleys require a coin or chip deposit. See our guide to German supermarkets.
Practical Tips
- Return bottles on the same shopping trip. It’s easiest to bring them when you buy new ones.
- Keep the vouchers. Use the Pfandbon the same day so you don’t lose it.
- Check the price label. The deposit is shown separately (“zzgl. Pfand”), so the shelf price is lower than the till price.
- Buy returnable crates if you can. They’re the most environmentally friendly choice.
- Don’t expect refunds on non-deposit items. Wine bottles and jars go in the glass containers.
- Travelling out of Germany? Finish your drinks and return the bottles before you leave. You can’t claim the deposit once you’re abroad.
FAQ
How much is Pfand in Germany?
Single-use bottles and cans carry a fixed 25-cent deposit. Reusable bottles typically range from 8 to 15 cents, with some at 25 cents or more.
Where can I return Pfand bottles?
At a Pfandautomat or the checkout in supermarkets and drinks stores. Retailers that sell single-use bottles must take them back, even if the drinks were bought elsewhere.
Can I return bottles bought in another country?
Generally no. The German system only accepts containers sold under its own deposit scheme.
What is a Pfandbon?
The voucher the machine prints after you return your bottles. You hand it to the cashier to get cash or reduce your bill, and it can only be redeemed at the branch that issued it.
Related:
Recycling in Germany: A Cultural Obsession or Environmental Success?