Deposit-refund system in Poland

Establishment of system operator: the system operator will start functioning after obtaining decision.
Start of the system: system should start operating in 2025.
Regulatory authority: Ministry of Climate and Environment.
Material type and packaging sizes covered by the system:
- disposable plastic bottles of up to 3 liters,
- reusable glass bottles of up to 1.5 liters,
- metal cans of up to 1 liter.
Expected positive impact of the deposit-refund system:
- reduce environmental pollution from packaging waste,
- increase the level of selective collection of packaging waste,
- increase the level of recycling,
- develop positive habits in society regarding waste segregation,
- improve circularity.
System organization: System will be formed and managed by representative entity made by producers of drinks in packaging included in the deposit-refund system. Entrepreneurs will be obliged to achieve certain levels of separate collection of packaging and packaging waste within the system (90% from 2029). The Act allows several operators of the deposit-refund system to operate on the market.
Deposit value: to be determined by regulation (still being processed).
Container return & refund points: Retailers selling deposit-bearing drinks, will collect deposit fee from customer. Fee will be added to the price of the drinks. When returning packaging, customer will grain back the deposit and no receipt will be required. Packages covered by the system will have to be labeled accordingly. Representative entities will be able to base the collection system on vending machines, manual collection or mixed collection.
All retailers, regardless of their area, will collect a deposit if they offer beverages in packages covered by the system. Empty packages covered by the deposit system will be allowed to be returned at commercial units with an area of more than 200 m2. Commercial units with an area of less than 200 m2 will be able to voluntarily join the system for collecting empty packages and returning the deposit.
It will be possible to set up collection points for empty packaging separate from the commercial units.
Money, material & data flow: In accordance with the principle of extended producer responsibility, the producers of beverages in packaging covered by the deposit system will finance the system. The deposit collected by the retailers will be transferred to the representing entity, and all financial settlements will be made monthly. Producers, will bear the costs associated with, among other things, the collection and transportation of packaging and waste, and keeping records and accounting for deposits. The system will additionally be financed by an unreturned deposit and the sale of recycled materials.