Since 30 November 2023, eligible single-use drink packaging has carried a 0.50-RON deposit at purchase. The system covers marked PET, glass and metal containers from 0.1 to 3 litres. The deposit is the same whether the package held water, beer, juice or wine.
Three materials share one small coin
The package has four jobs after the last sip
Do not crush the bottle to save luggage space
A reverse-vending machine identifies the barcode, shape and weight. Flattening a PET bottle, crushing a can, breaking glass or peeling away the label can make a genuine deposit package unreadable. Empty it completely and carry it back whole.
The mark matters more than the material
Not every plastic bottle or metal can belongs to SGR. The system is limited to specified drink categories and marked primary packaging. Check the logo before building a return bag, especially when an imported or older product looks similar.
The return point does not need your original receipt
The deposit follows the package through a national system rather than one purchase record. RetuRO says consumers can return eligible packaging at retailer collection points without proving where it was bought. Follow the machine or counter instructions for the refund or voucher.
A restaurant can keep the container and the loop
Hospitality venues participate in the system, but the practical customer flow depends on whether the package leaves the premises. Ask before carrying away a marked bottle; takeaway and on-site consumption can lead to different deposit handling.
Fifty bani makes the smallest visual lesson on the site
The refund equals the highest-value Romanian circulation coin. After one return, the system's abstract “0.50 RON” becomes a real gold-coloured 50-bani piece in the shared coin explorer. A bag of six marked containers represents 3 lei.