How does the Pfand-System work in Germany?

Charlotte
Feb 17
4 min read

Did you ever wonder why you needed to pay more for a bottle of water than it says on the price tag? Welcome to the German Pfand-System!

Pfand means deposit in German.

The Pfand-System refers to a whole bottle and can recycling system.

In this article you will learn

why Germany has a deposit system (Pfand).
which types of packaging require a deposit, and how to recognize them.
the deposit rules: when do you pay how much?
how to return empty bottles.

Why is there a deposit system?

The idea is simple:

When you buy certain bottles or beverage cans, you pay a deposit (Pfand) on top of the product price. When you return the empty bottles, you get the deposit back. So the bottle isn’t just thrown away — it is reused or recycled.

How do I know how much the deposit is?

If you look closely at the price tag on the shelf or in an advertising flyer, you’ll see that the deposit is listed separately.

UVP = unverbindliche Preisempfehlung – recommended retail price

zzgl. = zuzüglich - plus / in addition

But if you know the type of packaging, you can usually estimate the deposit amount as well.

Three types of packaging require a deposit:

Single-use bottles (Einweg)

You can recognize them by the DPG logo.

Reusable bottles (Mehrweg)

Either glass or PET.

Glass yogurt jars and glass milk bottles are handled the same way.

Beverage cans (Getränkedosen)

The deposit rules

**Single-use containers (*Einwegverpackungen***)

Single-use beverage containers (plastic bottles and cans) (0.1–3 liters) are subject to a deposit.

This also applies to milk and milk-based mixed drinks if they are sold in single-use plastic bottles.

The single-use deposit (DPG logo) is always 25 cents.

**Reusable bottles (*Mehrwegflaschen***)

Unfortunately, there is no single rule that applies to all products.

Sometimes the bottle tells you how much the deposit is.

Usually, the deposit is between 8 and 15 cents.

For example:

Water bottle (glass or PET): 15-cent deposit
Bottle with fruit juice or soft drinks (PET): 15-cent deposit
Beer bottle (glass): 8-cent deposit
Beer bottle with clip closure (glass): 15-cent deposit

Yogurt jar (glass): 15-cent deposit

Getränkedosen

All beverage cans are subject to a deposit. The deposit is 25 cents. There are no exceptions.

Even more deposit …

Germans usually prefer buying beer, water, and fruit juices in a crate (die Kiste). The deposit depends on the size and is about 3 euros

If you prefer drinking beer from a keg rather than from bottles, you may have to pay a deposit as well:

The 5-liter keg has no deposit.
Up to 30 liters, the deposit is usually 25 euros.
Over 30 liters, the deposit is 30 euros.

How do I return empty bottles?

Of course, you only get back the deposit you actually paid.

That means you can’t return bottles from abroad. If you didn’t pay a deposit, you dispose of the packaging according to the material (plastic/metal → yellow bin/bag, glass → glass recycling container).

Tip: Make sure the label is still readable.

Here’s where you can return empty bottles:

Supermarket

Most supermarkets have deposit return machines (Pfandautomaten). You can find them near the entrance, at the back of the store, or in a separate area of the building.

Most deposit machines only accept single-use bottles and beverage cans.

Bottles and cans must not be crushed, otherwise the machines may not accept them. In that case, you should ask a staff member.

You receive a receipt showing the deposit amount. You can get this amount paid out at the checkout.

The claim expires after three years; the period begins at the end of the year in which the receipt was issued.

Warning: The print fades over time or in heat, so you shouldn’t wait too long.

If a supermarket doesn’t have a deposit machine, it should be possible to return the bottles at the checkout.

Kiosk

Shopping, sightseeing, or relaxing in a park makes you thirsty! If you buy a bottle at a kiosk or a small shop, the return options may be limited (e.g., to certain materials and products from their own range).

Beverage stores (der Getränkemarkt)

Of course, you can return all bottles at a beverage store.

Hopefully, Germany’s deposit system is much simpler for you now!

You can definitely save a lot of money by returning empty bottles.

A final tip:

If you drink water, you can save yourself the hassle of carrying bottles back and forth:

Tap water in Germany is very high quality. It is even considered the most strictly controlled food product in Germany! There are significantly more regulations for tap water than for mineral water. For example, the limit values for pesticides and uranium are lower.

And of course, it’s much better for the environment, too.