Germany has a nationwide recycling program for single and multi-use plastics and glass drinking bottles called the Pfandsystem, which means ‘deposit system’ in English. ‘Pfand’ in English translates to ‘deposit’ and it is paid to any retailer which you purchase your beverage from. When you’re done with the bottle, simply return it and get your deposit back! But how do you know which bottles are part of the Pfandsystem? How much are they worth? And how do I properly recycle them? We’ve answered all you need to know to understand pfand in Germany and how to not throw away your money (literally!). 

What is Pfand?

Pfand in Germany the national solution to recycling by limiting the number of permanently discarded plastic and glass containers. This is done by requiring a deposit that is paid at the point of sale which is refunded once the container has been used and returned. Essentially, this encourages people to return empty bottles rather than throwing them away.

Pfand will be applied to common use plastic drink bottles, glass water bottles, beer bottles, and even some glass milk containers. 

Some of these beverage containers are called ‘mehrwegflaschen’ which means ‘multi-use bottles’ and are cleaned, refilled and sold again. These are common for most glass beer bottles in Germany and glass water bottles. 

How Do You Know if You Paid Pfand on a Bottle?

You might go to a gas station or grocery store and purchase a bottle for 0.99€ but end up paying 1.24€. That’s strange, because VAT is already included in the advertised price in Germany. Did the cashier ring the item up incorrectly? 

No. You paid the 0.25€ deposit. Check your receipt for ‘pfand’'. 

Whether your bottle will have pfand or not is typically indicated on the bottle label.

Examples include: ‘Pfand’ written out, ‘mehrweg’ (multiple use), or ‘einweg’ (single use). Sometimes beer bottles have nothing visible, but you can expect it to have pfand because they are almost always worn out and therefore reused.

What Bottles have Pfand and How Much Does it Cost 

Pfand in Germany comes in many shapes and sizes. There are several different types of beverage containers which include pfand, but at different prices. 

Einwegflaschen - Single Use Bottles - 0.25€ Pfand

Einwegflaschen are bottles which cannot be cleaned and reused. Because these bottles cannot be used again, they come with a higher deposit than the multi use (Mehrwegflaschen). Germany does this to deter people from buying the plastic bottles which are less sustainable. 

Common examples:

• Thin plastic bottles (0.25€)

• Canned drinks, like Coca-Cola or Red Bull, (0.25€)

Mehrwegflaschen - Multi Use Bottles - 0.8€ - 0.15€ Pfand

Multi use bottles (Mehrwegflaschen) are quite popular in Germany and have a lower Pfand than the single use. These can often be purchased in a drink crate (Getränkekiste, also with pfand) which make returning and replacing easy and convenient. 

Common examples:

• Thick plastic bottles (0.15€)

• Beer bottles, 0.33L & 0.5L (0.08€)

• Glass water bottles (0.15€)

• Milk bottles (0.15€)

• Landliebe joghurt (0.15€)

Getränkekiste - Drink Crate - Over 3€ Pfand

A beverage crate (Getränkekiste) is commonly used in Germany for purchasing and carrying home up to 20 glass bottles of beer, water, and other types of drinks. Like the bottles inside, this heavy duty plastic container also comes with a pfand. 

Common Examples:

• Heavy duty plastic crates for water, beer, and other beverages

Pfandfrei - Deposit Free

To make this more confusing, some containers have no deposit at all. In this case, these should be recycled separately at predefined recycling locations or scheduled pickups. You can find these large recycling stations throughout most German towns and cities in Central locations.

Common Examples:

• Some thin plastic bottles (check the label for Pfandfrei)

• Wine bottles

• Glass food jars

• Liquor bottles

• Fruit juice bottles

• Bottles purchased outside of Germany

How and Where to Reclaim your Pfand Deposit in Germany

Grocery Store (Supermarkt)

Pfand in Germany is commonly returned in grocery stores with special automated pfand return machines (Leergutautomat) for scanning and collecting. Usually located at the front of the store, but sometimes at the back or maybe on the sides. Sometimes split into two different machines. Right, they can be hard to track down. You really just need to go and look for them. These are often split up to two different machines. 

One is dedicated to single use (Einwegflasche) which will scan, accept and then shred the bottle.  

The other machine looks almost the same, however it will often route the multi-use bottle (Mehrwegflasche) to a storage room where it’s sorted and shipped away to clean and refill. This machine will also accept returns of the drinking crate ‘Getränkekiste’ on the bottom side.

Both of the machines will give you a receipt which you can then give the cashier in the store and they will pay you back the amount, or deduct it from your shopping total. 

If the pfand machine isn’t functioning correctly with a bottle (frustratingly, this is common), you can hand it to the cashier for your deposit return.

Black Forest Family Tip

Avoid learning how to use these pfand machines (Leergutautomat) in Germany on Saturdays or during a busy part of the day. There will most likely be a line and patience for those in line behind you is not common.

Gas Station (Tankstelle)

If you have an empty bottle and would like the pfand returned, you can stop in at any gas station. Hand the empty bottle to the cashier and they will pay you back the pfand.

If you’re road tripping down the Autobahn, it’s usually a good practice to just drop off your bottles at your next stop. 

Beverage Market (Getränkemarkt)

Dedicated beverage markets in Germany are the easiest place for returning pfand for beverage crates (Getränkekisten) or just a lot of bottles. This is where we go for our Getränkekisten of beer or water.

Charities

Depending on the city, you can sometimes find pfand donation machines in Germany which accept used bottles and donates the pfand to a charity. Pfandgeben is common, but there are certainly others, even some in Frankfurt airport. 

Leave Empties Next to Trash Cans for the Pfandsammler (Deposit Collector)

You will commonly see empty beer bottles next to trash cans rather than in them. People do this so individuals who often go searching for easy pfand money, called a Pfandsammler, can find it without digging through the trash. 

This is however, littering. We recommend using one of the other methods listed above.

Uncommon Containers Or Local Bottles/Jars with Pfand

If you go to a farmer’s market in Germany or a specialty drink store, you can purchase beverages or jars which have their own pfand. This can be beer, wine, honey, jam, or a variety of juices.

Because these are often unusual shapes and sizes and may not have any label, they need to be returned where purchased. The sales person will most likely provide this information to you without you even knowing you’re paying pfand. 

Other Questions

What does pfand mean?

Pfand translates to ‘deposit’ in English. It is paid at the time of purchasing a bottle.

In Germany do I need to return my pfand bottle or pfand can where I bought it?

No. In most cases, you can return your bottle to receive your deposit back anywhere. If it is a unique size or shape and bought at a specialty store, you may have to go back to that store.

How to get pfand (deposit) back in Germany:

Grocery stores and gas stations are the most common pfand return locations. 

How much does pfand cost in Germany?

It ranges from 8 cents to 25 cents for single use and multi use bottles. 

How do you know if you paid a pfand (deposit) in Germany on a bottle or can?

The bottle label will say ‘mehrweg’,  ‘einweg’ or simply say ‘pfand’. Or, check your receipt, you will see ‘pfand’ as the cost as a line item.

How can I get my pfand in Germany (deposit) returned when the machine (Leergutautomat) can’t read the bottle correctly?

Go to the cashier, they can give you your deposit back manually. 

Is there a pfand in Germany on cans?

Yes. They are single use (einweg) cans and cost 25 cents.