Sisters Ariela and Alice had already been participating in Portugal’s bottle return program to earn some extra cash, but since June they have escalated their efforts. Instead of merely returning their own bottles, they now collect plastic waste from their neighbours and profit from it as well.
Since the Volta program launched in April, plastic bottles in Portugal carry a €0.10 deposit. Returning an empty bottle to a Volta machine at a supermarket yields a receipt that can be redeemed for discounts or cash.
The sisters have ambitious plans for their earnings. Ten-year-old Alice aims to participate in a three-week exchange program in South Korea, while her 13-year-old sister Ariela hopes to do the same in the United States.
“They wrote small notes, and I printed them along with details of their project and the scheduled collection times,” explains their mother, Karina Lauro, who relocated to Portugal from Rio de Janeiro in 2024.
“They leave the collection bags at residents’ doors and return every evening at nine to retrieve them, if any bottles have been deposited.”
The collected bottles are then exchanged for money. Their goal is clear: to gather 120,000 bottles by June of next year, which would net each of them €6,000.
The girls themselves conceived the idea of leveraging Volta for fundraising and enlisting their neighbours, after their mother cautioned that relying solely on household bottles would generate minimal income. “It was hardly worth it, wasn’t it? Because we only had our own bottles,” Karina Lauro notes. “Basically, without the neighbours’ contributions, it wouldn’t have been possible.”
“We don’t pick anything out of the rubbish”
Under Volta, plastic bottles of up to three litres are subject to a ten-cent deposit, which is refundable upon return.
Bottles are returned through machines located in supermarkets, which provide receipts redeemable for discounts or cash. Kiosks are also becoming available in other high-traffic areas to handle larger volumes.
Operated by SDR Portugal, this initiative is Portugal’s response to the Single-Use Plastics Directive (DSUP), which mandates that 90 percent of deposit bottles be collected by 2029. The directive permits EU member states to establish deposit schemes to achieve this goal.
Since the system’s rollout in April, there have been reports of increased bin searches and litter left by individuals seeking bottles. In Lisbon, residents and parish councils have voiced complaints about accumulating refuse. In late July, the PSP arrested a man for rummaging through bins, describing him as a “rubbish miner.”
This situation is not unprecedented. In an interview with Euronews last year, the president of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), José Pimenta Machado, highlighted potential environmental risks. The report also noted that in Germany, which has had a deposit return system since 2003, it is common for homeless individuals to search through waste for bottles.
However, not all bottle seekers are homeless; some are simply looking to supplement their income, and for some young people, it has become a summer initiative.
This applies to two young men working at a beach concession in Loulé. In an interview with Rádio Renascença, they emphasized that they do not “rummage through rubbish” but merely deposit the bottles they collect as part of their job.
Karina Lauro is cognizant of the practice of bin searches for bottles, including “those who genuinely save them as a source of income.” However, her daughters do not engage in such practices.
“No, people give them to us. We don’t take anything from the rubbish,” the mother clarifies. “Additionally, we don’t roam the streets searching for bottles; we go directly to residents’ homes.”
This initiative is also an environmental project promoting recycling, aligned with one of Alice’s aspirations: studying at Harvard.
“The goal is for them to achieve that recycling target, which can also serve as an environmental project for Alice,” the mother explains, referencing the admission criteria for North American universities.
“From bifanas to cats”
António Casa Branca is the owner of Gatil Original, a sanctuary in Vendas Novas that primarily cares for older, sick, and vulnerable cats. About six weeks ago, he conceived a plan: establishing partnerships with local businesses.
Partner businesses donate their empty bottles to the cattery, which returns them and retains the money. The proceeds are used to purchase food for the animals.
“In Vendas Novas, there are numerous ‘bifana’ [a classic Portuguese sandwich] shops, and we strive to partner with them. Every week, we collect the bags they set aside containing recyclable waste, such as plastic bottles and cans,” he explains. “We then take them to the machine, exchange them for vouchers, and use the vouchers at the supermarket to buy cat food.”
On their first collection, donations from one bifana restaurant filled a van.
“One bifana owner loaded my van with bags of one-and-a-half-litre bottles and smaller ones. The van was full, amounting to approximately €50,” António recounts.
The cattery already has five partnerships, including a pastry shop, and even an accountancy office willing to contribute by donating bottles from its staff. António Casa Branca plans to visit partner businesses daily after work. “To me, it’s invaluable. I have no hesitation in asking or seeking donations,” he says.
“If we can secure €50 per week from each of three or four restaurants, that would suffice to cover the animals’ food costs.”
The initiative is proving effective: António Casa Branca manages to purchase all the food for the approximately 40 cats at the cattery. Other expenses, such as veterinary bills and medications, remain uncovered.
Volta machines offer the option to donate the money to charity. The Volta website lists examples such as the Portuguese Firefighters’ League, Caritas, the League for the Protection of the Environment, and the Portuguese League for Animal Rights. Available charities vary by machine.
However, some organizations are expanding their fundraising efforts by requesting donors to provide refund vouchers or even the bottles themselves, taking on the responsibility of depositing them at collection points.
“We can’t let this fall apart”
For the past two weeks, a bin has been available at the Ota Parish Council office for residents to deposit empty plastic bottles. A 1,000-litre container has also been placed in the centre of the parish for bottle deposits, which filled up within days.
“Given the high usage, we plan to place two additional containers, one at each end of the parish,” explains Nelson Mota.
Nelson grew up in Ota and maintains a strong connection to the area. He is part of Guarda à Casa, a civic movement dedicated to restoring the building where the forest rangers of Serra da Ota once lived.
“We decided we could take action; we cannot let this deteriorate,” he says. “If the relevant authorities cannot assist us, given this year’s heavy rains, it’s understandable that councils may struggle to support certain projects.”
The idea to use the Volta system for fundraising then emerged.
“Volta provides an easy way to raise funds. While not substantial, it generates the kind of money needed to begin organizing events.”
In addition to the containers, the group has the support of the Recreational and Sports Association, which is donating bottles from its bar. Members of the civic group are also collecting bottles from friends and workplaces and then redeeming the money at a Volta machine.
“I made a deposit yesterday, amounting to €11.60, which corresponds to 116 bottles,” explains Nelson Mota. “I handed in 116 bottles, which took up minimal space in the car, and received €10 without hassle. I think it’s worthwhile, don’t you?” he tells Euronews.
The initiative’s success does not surprise Nelson Mota: “We are naturally receiving a positive response. The people of Ota always rally to support such initiatives. That’s the spirit of the community.”
“I never imagined it would get this big”
Ariela and Alice’s project is also gaining traction, largely due to social media. The “Sonho na garrafa” pages outline the collection process and provide updates on the number of bottles gathered.
“I wanted to establish a social media presence and showcase this project so it would reach people and serve as a record for her future,” says Karina Lauro, referring to her daughter’s university aspirations. “However, I never anticipated it would grow so much, as people began to embrace it.”
The Instagram account has over 12,000 followers, and the TikTok has garnered more than 250,000 likes. As a result, more people are sending encouraging messages and offering contributions, including those living abroad.
“Once they gained visibility online, people started wanting to donate bottles or the money from exchanging them,” says the mother, noting that she only accepts donations resulting from bottle deposits.
“There is a person in Ireland who sends money weekly. Since bottles are 25 cents each in Ireland, she exchanges them there and sends the proceeds to the children.”
Another significant boost came from restaurants eager to participate in the project. Karina herself now collects bottles from the restaurants on a weekly basis.
By mid-August, they had collected over 5,300 bottles and €537.
“However, more restaurants are now expressing interest in contributing. With their involvement, that number will likely double.”
