diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/CHANGELOG.md b/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/CHANGELOG.md
index 7c4ff51e8c..c13da0b280 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ CHANGELOG
  * allowed specifying a directory to recursively load all configuration files it contains
  * deprecated the concept of scopes
  * added `Definition::setShared()` and `Definition::isShared()`
+ * added ResettableContainerInterface to be able to reset the container to release memory on shutdown
 
 2.7.0
 -----
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Container.php b/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Container.php
index 0222d7063b..513fc9de0f 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Container.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Container.php
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ namespace Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection;
 
 use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Exception\InactiveScopeException;
 use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Exception\InvalidArgumentException;
+use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Exception\LogicException;
 use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Exception\RuntimeException;
 use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Exception\ServiceNotFoundException;
 use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Exception\ServiceCircularReferenceException;
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\ParameterBag\FrozenParameterBag;
  *
  * @api
  */
-class Container implements IntrospectableContainerInterface
+class Container implements IntrospectableContainerInterface, ResettableContainerInterface
 {
     /**
      * @var ParameterBagInterface
@@ -375,6 +376,18 @@ class Container implements IntrospectableContainerInterface
         return isset($this->services[$id]) || array_key_exists($id, $this->services);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * {@inheritdoc}
+     */
+    public function reset()
+    {
+        if (!empty($this->scopedServices)) {
+            throw new LogicException('Resetting the container is not allowed when a scope is active.');
+        }
+
+        $this->services = array();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Gets all service ids.
      *
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/ResettableContainerInterface.php b/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/ResettableContainerInterface.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b74e676245
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/ResettableContainerInterface.php
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<?php
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of the Symfony package.
+ *
+ * (c) Fabien Potencier <fabien@symfony.com>
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+namespace Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection;
+
+/**
+ * ResettableContainerInterface defines additional resetting functionality
+ * for containers, allowing to release shared services when the container is
+ * not needed anymore.
+ *
+ * @author Christophe Coevoet <stof@notk.org>
+ */
+interface ResettableContainerInterface extends ContainerInterface
+{
+    /**
+     * Resets shared services from the container.
+     *
+     * The container is not intended to be used again after being reset in a normal workflow. This method is
+     * meant as a way to release references for ref-counting.
+     * A subsequent call to ContainerInterface::get will recreate a new instance of the shared service.
+     */
+    public function reset();
+}
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Tests/ContainerTest.php b/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Tests/ContainerTest.php
index 09b4a12e2f..cffef39008 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Tests/ContainerTest.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/DependencyInjection/Tests/ContainerTest.php
@@ -320,6 +320,49 @@ class ContainerTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
         $this->assertTrue($sc->initialized('alias'), '->initialized() returns true for alias if aliased service is initialized');
     }
 
+    public function testReset()
+    {
+        $c = new Container();
+        $c->set('bar', new \stdClass());
+
+        $c->reset();
+
+        $this->assertNull($c->get('bar', ContainerInterface::NULL_ON_INVALID_REFERENCE));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @expectedException \Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Exception\LogicException
+     * @expectedExceptionMessage Resetting the container is not allowed when a scope is active.
+     * @group legacy
+     */
+    public function testCannotResetInActiveScope()
+    {
+        $c = new Container();
+        $c->addScope(new Scope('foo'));
+        $c->set('bar', new \stdClass());
+
+        $c->enterScope('foo');
+
+        $c->reset();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @group legacy
+     */
+    public function testResetAfterLeavingScope()
+    {
+        $c = new Container();
+        $c->addScope(new Scope('foo'));
+        $c->set('bar', new \stdClass());
+
+        $c->enterScope('foo');
+        $c->leaveScope('foo');
+
+        $c->reset();
+
+        $this->assertNull($c->get('bar', ContainerInterface::NULL_ON_INVALID_REFERENCE));
+    }
+
     /**
      * @group legacy
      */
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/Kernel.php b/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/Kernel.php
index 5f714d97d5..d70439bd08 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/Kernel.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/Kernel.php
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Loader\IniFileLoader;
 use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Loader\PhpFileLoader;
 use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Loader\DirectoryLoader;
 use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Loader\ClosureLoader;
+use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\ResettableContainerInterface;
 use Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Request;
 use Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Response;
 use Symfony\Component\HttpKernel\Bundle\BundleInterface;
@@ -180,6 +181,10 @@ abstract class Kernel implements KernelInterface, TerminableInterface
             $bundle->setContainer(null);
         }
 
+        if ($this->container instanceof ResettableContainerInterface) {
+            $this->container->reset();
+        }
+
         $this->container = null;
     }