European UnionTwo sisters in Portugal, Ariela (13) and Alice (10), are using the country's Volta scheme to earn money by collecting empty plastic bottles from their neighbors. Since April 2024, plastic bottles in Portugal include a €0.10 deposit, which can be reclaimed by returning them to supermarkets with Volta machines. The sisters initially used the scheme with their own bottles but expanded their efforts by asking neighbors for theirs, aiming to collect 120,000 bottles by June 2025 to earn €6,000 each. Their mother, Karina Lauro, explained they left bags at neighbors' doors for daily pickups. However, the system has led to issues, including reports of people rummaging through trash bins, causing littering. In Lisbon, parish councils and residents complained, leading to the arrest of a man dubbed a 'rubbish miner.' The Volta system, managed by SDR Portugal, aims to meet EU targets under the Single-Use Plastics Directive.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced view of the Volta scheme, its implementation, and its unintended consequences. It includes both the positive aspects (e.g., the sisters' initiative, the system's alignment with EU directives) and negative outcomes (littering, illegal bin-rummaging). There is no overt左
