How does the bottle and can deposit (pant) work in Sweden?
How to return cans and bottles, where the machines are and how you are paid.
Short answer
You get your deposit back by putting empty cans and bottles with a Swedish deposit mark into a deposit machine, and over 3,100 Swedish stores have one. The machine pays out the deposit immediately, and some stores and Pantamera Express machines also pay out through Swish. You receive the amount printed on the package.
Why
- According to Pantamera, all cans and bottles that carry a Swedish deposit mark are part of the Swedish deposit system.
- According to Pantamera, grocery store machines are the most common place to return packaging, and over 3,100 stores have at least one machine.
- According to Pantamera, the barcode (EAN code) must be intact and readable, and the can or bottle must not be flattened.
Details
Large amounts can go into a Pantamera Express machine, where you empty full bags of cans and PET bottles into one compartment, and Pantamera also lists deposit points for larger quantities. To get your deposit through Swish at a Pantamera Express machine, you choose Swish on the screen, print a QR code and scan it in the Pantamera app. Nearby recycling services are listed in waste and recycling services in Stockholm, and everyday costs are covered in is Sweden expensive to visit.
Tip
Keep cans and bottles undamaged with the barcode readable, and use the Pantamera app to check quickly whether a can or bottle has a deposit.
What may differ
Glass bottles work differently, because Pantamera does not handle glass bottles: returnable glass goes to grocery stores, and glass without deposit goes to glass recycling. Packaging without a Swedish deposit mark gives no deposit.
Common misconception
You can get a deposit back on any can or bottle, wherever it was bought.
What actually happens
According to Pantamera, it cannot receive PET bottles that are not part of the Swedish deposit system, and aluminium cans without a Swedish deposit mark give no compensation.
People also ask
- How does pant work in Sweden?
- How do I return cans and bottles for a deposit in Sweden?
- Where can I recycle bottles and cans for money in Sweden?
Sources
- Pantamera: Where can I return cans and bottlesChecked at:
- Pantamera: What can I depositChecked at:
- Pantamera: What cannot be deposited through usChecked at:
- Pantamera: Deposit money via SwishChecked at:
- Returpack customer magazine, issue 2, 2025Checked at:
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Pantamera before you return your containers.
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