As of 1 January 2025, Poland will have a deposit system to which shops over 200 m² must comply. Shops covered by the deposit system will be obliged to accept empty beverage containers from customers. Shops with a smaller footprint can also join the new system, but in this case it is voluntary.
Shops selling beverages in respective containers (PET bottles up to 3 litres, aluminium and steel cans up to 1 litre and glass bottles up to 1.5 litres) are obliged to collect a deposit from customers, which will be returned after the customer returns the empty beverage containers.
HOW WILL THE DEPOSIT SYSTEM WORK?
Each beverage container will have an additional charge, or deposit, which will be returned to the customer when that container is returned to the shop.The deposit for such containers is to be 50 groszy per unit.
The deposit system will involve the development of a collection system for reusable and disposable packaging. In this connection, recycling machines for bottles and cans are to appear in shops, while the deposit that is not collected by the customer will go towards funding the deposit system.
HOW WILL THE DEPOSIT SYSTEM BE SET UP?
The new system will be set up by shops who trade in packaged beverages, appointing an operator whose task it will be to implement and oversee the smooth running of the system. At the moment, the legislation does not regulate the number of operators, so several deposit systems may be set up.
Shops who do not join the system or do not reach the required levels of separate collection of packaging and waste will have to pay a product fee.
REVERSE VENDING MACHINES AS THE INTEGRAL PART OF THE DEPOSIT SYSTEM.
Following the example of other European countries, such as Germany or Denmark, Reverse Vending Machines will appear in Poland. The deposit will be paid out regardless of whether the customer has proof of purchase. However, the deposit system will vary, depending on the area of the shop where the Reverse Vending Machine will be located.
TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS
For Vending Solutions has responded to the upcoming changes by developing comprehensive technological solutions in the form of advanced Reverse Vending Machines equipped with a wide range of necessary and further enhancing recycling technologies.
