The invention relates to a buffer method and buffer arrangement (7) for the buffering of bottles (18) in a treatment plant (1) which is comprised of several stations (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), arranged one after another and connected to each other by a bottle conveyor (10). When capacity problems, disturbances or failure of individual station occurs at or between one or more of the stations (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), bottles are ejected by the bottle conveyor (10) and are stored in an intermediary store (17). For storage purposes, the bottles are transferred layer by layer to a relay station (8) to one or more subcarriers (9) and stored with the latter. For unloading purposes, the subcarriers (9) are once again unloaded by the relay station (8). The bottles are individually sorted and are reintroduced into the bottle conveyor (10). Ejection and introduction can occur at different places.