EDRSA Once Again Brings European Experts Together to Discuss the Future of Deposit Return Systems and Circularity

Bratislava once again welcomed experts from the member countries of the European Deposit Return Systems Association (EDRSA) this year. The Working Group Meeting, held on 7–8 October 2026, brought together approximately 80 representatives from 16 countries to discuss common challenges, share experiences and explore solutions for the further development of deposit return systems across Europe. Key topics included European legislation, improving the efficiency of deposit return systems and their contribution to advancing circularity.

EDRSA has seven expert Working Groups focusing on Legal Affairs, Finance, Operations and Logistics, IT and Change Management, Retail Technology, Fraud Prevention and Communication. These groups bring together experts from member deposit return systems who meet regularly online to exchange experiences and address common challenges. Their cooperation helps improve the operation of national systems and provides a strong foundation of practical expertise for discussions on deposit return systems at the European level.

The aim of the meeting was to build on the ongoing cooperation between EDRSA’s Working Groups, which regularly share knowledge and address common challenges throughout the year. The in-person meeting in Bratislava provided an opportunity for broader expert discussions, bringing together insights from different Working Groups and identifying priorities for future cooperation.

Participants discussed European legislative requirements, including the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the upcoming Circular Economy Act. They also addressed ways to improve the efficiency of DRS logistics and financing, digitalisation, the use of new technologies and fraud prevention. In the area of communication, discussions focused on engaging younger generations, making return opportunities more accessible at public events and in public spaces, and the labelling of deposit-bearing beverage containers.

The main outcome of the meeting was the identification of priority topics for the Working Groups to address in the coming period. Their future cooperation will focus on comparing approaches across countries, sharing best practices and developing practical recommendations. These insights can also contribute to expert discussions on European legislation, the future of deposit return systems and the circular economy in Europe.

“European deposit return systems have gained years of practical experience that can make a valuable contribution to the development of European regulations. Our goal is to bring this expertise together, identify common solutions and contribute an expert perspective to discussions on the future of deposit return systems and circularity in Europe,” said Marián Áč, President of EDRSA.

The two-day programme also included a visit to the Slovak Deposit Return System’s Sorting Centre in Kočovce. Participants had the opportunity to learn about its operations and exchange practical experiences in logistics, sorting and processing of collected beverage containers.