Poland’s New Deposit System Sparks Concerns Over Glass Bottle Disparity
Warsaw, Poland – A new deposit system launching in Poland on October 1st aims to boost recycling rates for plastic bottles and metal cans, but a key exclusion – disposable glass bottles – is raising concerns about potential confusion and uneven environmental impact. While plastic bottles up to 3 liters and metal cans up to 1 liter will be subject to a deposit refund upon return, disposable glass bottles will not be included, a decision stemming from logistical challenges cited by smaller retailers.
The system, formalized by the Caurrament System Act signed in 2023, mandates that large stores (over 200 sq m) accept returns and issue refunds. Smaller stores can voluntarily participate. Reusable glass bottles up to 1.5 liters will be added to the deposit scheme starting January 1,2026. The distinction between single-use and reusable glass is persistent solely by the beverage manufacturer, potentially creating ambiguity for consumers.
This omission follows repeated appeals from retailers, particularly smaller businesses, who argued they lacked the infrastructure to manage the collection of disposable glass within a deposit system. “Stores explained then that they would not be able to logistically deal with the collection of such packaging in the deposit system,” the report states.Amendments to the Act in 2024 maintained this exclusion despite renewed discussion.
Despite the exclusion, the Ministry of Climate and surroundings (MKiŚ) emphasizes the importance of reusable glass packaging for a circular economy. Anita Sowińska of MKiŚ stated the ministry’s long-term goal is to standardize bottles, asserting, “without this it is not possible to achieve very high levels of recycling.” The ministry cites examples like Germany, where glass bottles are reused an average of 45 times, and Finland, with an average of 33 refills, highlighting the potential environmental benefits of a robust reusable system. MKiŚ calculates one reusable glass bottle can replace approximately 20 single-use bottles.
