On August 17th, a vote was held in the Sejm, in which the Senate's amendments to the act introducing the deposit-refund system were rejected. Thus, the act awaits only the signature of the President and publication in the Journal of Laws.
On August 17, the Senate's amendments to the draft amendment act on Packaging and Packaging Waste Management were rejected by the Sejm. As a result, all that is needed is the President's signature and publication in the Journal of Laws for the law to enter into force.
The system is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2025. Thus, all entities obliged to participate in the creation of the deposit-return system, i.e. beverage producers and retail, face a very intensive period of preparation and negotiations.
The project adapts Polish law to the solutions in force in the European Union. Since 2019, the Single-Use Plastics Directive (the so-called SUP Directive) has been in force in the European Union, imposing new obligations on the Member States in the field of plastics management.
One of them is the obligation to achieve a 77% collection rate for recycling of single-use plastic bottles by 2025, and as much as 90% by 2029. One of the mechanisms to help achieve such a level of recycling is the introduction of a deposit-refund system.
A deposit-return system is a system in which a deposit is charged on the sale of beverages in selected disposable or reusable packaging, which is returned to end users when the packaging/packaging waste covered by the deposit system is returned.
Polish deposit-return system is to cover:
- disposable bottles made of plastic up to 3l,
- glass bottles up to 1.5l,
- metal cans of up to 1l.
All stores (i.e., retail or wholesale units) with an area of more than 200 square meters are to participate in the deposit return system to the full extent, i.e. as regards
- collection and return of deposits,
- collection of empty packaging and packaging waste.
In addition, stores will be required to:
- inform customers about how the deposit return system works,
- keep records of the number of packages purchased and sold, the number of packages returned, and the settlement of the deposit.
Smaller stores will be required to collect deposits on covered products, in other aspects they will be allowed to participate voluntarily.
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