The polish government has adopted a draft bill aligning Polish regulations with the EU directive aimed at reducing the environmental impact of certain plastic products.

Deposit amounts, container sizes, and types

According to the draft approved by the government, a deposit return system will be introduced covering:

• single-use plastic bottles with a capacity of up to 3 liters,

• reusable glass bottles with a capacity of up to 1.5 liters,

• metal cans with a capacity of up to 1 liter.

The deposit amount will be PLN 0.50 per container.

Where containers can be returned

Under the proposed regulations, empty containers can be returned to a store to reclaim the previously paid deposit. Large retail stores with a sales area exceeding 200 m² will be required to accept empty containers. Smaller shops may participate in the system on a voluntary basis; however, they will still be required to charge the deposit on eligible products.“To recover the deposit in a store, it will not be necessary to present a receipt confirming that it was previously paid,” emphasizes the Ministry of Climate and Environment.

New obligations for companies

Companies placing beverages on the market in packaging covered by the deposit system will be required to indicate the deposit amount on the packaging. Stores participating in the system will, in turn, be obliged to refund the collected deposit.

Entry into force

The new regulations are scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2025.

Objective

The aim of the new regulations is to increase the level of waste segregation and recycling, reduce environmental pollution, and support the circular economy.

Examples from other EU countries

Deposit return systems operate successfully in countries such as Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and Slovakia. For example, in Croatia the deposit amounts to EUR 0.07 per container, while in Germany it is EUR 0.25 regardless of the type of packaging. In Finland, the deposit depends on the type of container: EUR 0.10 for glass, EUR 0.15 for metal, and between EUR 0.10 and EUR 0.40 for plastic bottles, depending on their capacity.

Author: Agnieszka Orłowska (Managing Director at ESG Institute)

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