• Since the launch of the system, 3.2 billion deposit-bearing bottles and cans have been returned. 
• There are over 60,000 return points across Poland, including 17,500 with reverse vending machines. 
• 88% of returns are made via the machines. 
• In addition to retail outlets, nearly 600 collection points have been set up. In June, there were 230 of them. 
• It is estimated that the number of packaging items collected during summer events may exceed one million. 
• Work will soon begin on establishing the statutory validity period for the voucher. 

A total of 3.2 billion packaging items have already been collected at over 60,000 collection points. The majority of bottles and cans were returned via reverse vending machines, accounting for as much as 88% of returns made using the machines. They are currently available at 17,500 locations.  This represents a significant increase compared with June 2026, when reverse vending machines were available at 14,000 points.  

The deposit-refund system is going strong. By the end of July, we had already collected 3.2 billion packaging items bearing the deposit mark. At the end of June, this figure stood at 2.3 billion, so a further 900 million were added in July alone – a record. I am also proud to say that there are now over 60,000 collection points operating in Poland, and the number of reverse vending machines is growing significantly. We now have 17,500 of them across the country. Customers simply appreciate the convenience of automated collection

– said Anita Sowińska, Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, during a press conference on the deposit-refund system.

The deposit-refund system is increasingly expanding beyond traditional shops, bringing it closer to residents and making it a part of everyday life. In addition to retail outlets, there are now nearly 600 packaging collection points in operation. This represents a huge improvement compared to the 230 locations recorded in June. In Warsaw’s urban areas and housing estates alone, there are 61 reverse vending machines, and this network is growing rapidly. There are plans to install over 400 units in the capital. Meanwhile, over the next 3–4 years, the number of reverse vending machines across the country is expected to reach around 4,000.

The fact that the deposit-refund system works does not mean that it operates flawlessly. With such a major logistical reform, continuous improvement is a natural part of the process, and every feedback we receive is taken very seriously. Consumer rights are of the utmost importance. If a customer has received a deposit voucher and wishes to receive a cash refund, they are fully entitled to do so, and the shop cannot refuse to pay them. In the forthcoming amendment to the Act, we want to standardise and extend the validity period of vouchers so that the system will be as citizen-friendly as possible. We also plan to include single-use glassware in the system – naturally with an appropriate adjustment period, as this is a major systemic and logistical change

– said Anita Sowińska, Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment.

The deposit-refund system was a prominent feature at Poland’s biggest outdoor events this summer – from music festivals to major cultural and entertainment events. It became part of the summer infrastructure, accompanying those attending concerts and open-air summer gatherings. 

It is estimated that over a million packaging items may have been collected during this year’s outdoor events. At the Pol’And’Rock festival alone, over 700,000 cans and bottles were collected.  

Modern solutions – including machines that allow the deposit to be refunded directly to a payment card – made the whole process quick, convenient and tailored to the realities of large concerts and festivals. 

The Polish deposit-refund system is constantly evolving, and issues reported by citizens, such as queues at return machines or difficulties in reclaiming deposits, are treated as a priority and passed on to operators on an ongoing basis. In response to these challenges, an amendment to the Act is planned, which is intended, among other things, to extend the validity period of the deposit voucher. The Ministry is also analysing the possibility of extending the scheme to include single-use glass bottles (small bottles known in Poland as ‘małpki’ (monkeys).  

The deposit-refund system should work for people, not against them. Our priority is the convenience of returns, continued transparency in logistics and full financial transparency. These will always be our expectations towards operators. As part of our improvements, we intend to extend the validity period of vouchers by law, so they will be valid for considerably longer than 30 days

– wrote Paulina Hennig-Kloska, the Minister of Climate and Environment, on the X platform.

User convenience goes hand in hand with ensuring the system’s integrity, which requires the return of undamaged packaging bearing a legible barcode for further verification. It is also worth mentioning once again that the operators run on a non-profit basis, and funds from unclaimed deposits are allocated exclusively to the further development of the infrastructure, with the next key decisions to be taken based on hard data after a full year of the system’s operation. 

The operation of the deposit-refund system is also overseen locally by voivodship inspectorates for environmental protection, which regularly monitor its functioning.  Between February and April this year, eight selected VIEPs conducted 79 inspections at the request of the Ministry of Climate and Environment. None of these revealed any serious shortcomings.