Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment Jacek Ozdoba on the deposit-refund system:

The introduction of a deposit-refund system will reduce environmental pollution caused by glass waste and provide better-quality material for recycling. For the system to function properly, it must be universally accessible, while also ensuring that packaging can be easily returned and the deposit reclaimed. We want it to be clear to users, which is why we have proposed including other glass packaging in the system as well.

How will packaging and packaging waste be collected?

Under the draft Act amending the Act on packaging and packaging waste management and the Waste Act, the deposit-refund system will cover glass bottles of up to 1.5 l (single-use and reusable), aluminium cans of up to 1 l, and plastic bottles of up to 3 l.

An end to “mini-bottles” on the streets?

Deputy head of the ministry: – Including single-use glass bottles with a capacity of up to 1.5 l in the deposit-refund system should help solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by so-called mini-bottles. If they were not included in the deposit-refund system, there would also be a risk of producers switching from reusable bottles to single-use ones, which we want to avoid.

The Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment also pointed out that this solution would reduce consumer confusion, which could arise if some glass bottles were covered by the system while others remained outside it.

He added that the new proposals also provide for aluminium cans with a capacity of up to 1 l to be included in the deposit-refund system. This is intended, among other things, to increase collection rates, which, according to the industry, will rise by 10%, or approximately 400 million units. The change will also ensure a higher level of financing for the deposit-refund system.

– Such packaging circulates in a closed loop without involving retail outlets, which in the planned system will be responsible for collecting and refunding deposits. Therefore, any deposit-related settlements would be problematic for such entities – said Deputy Minister Jacek Ozdoba.

How much will the deposit be?

The draft act submitted for consultation did not specify the deposit rate for packaging. However, pursuant to a decision by the Management of the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the draft will be amended in this respect. Jacek Ozdoba: – The act will specify the maximum deposit rate, while the rates for individual types of packaging covered by the deposit-refund system will be specified in a regulation.

Ministry:

The proposed regulations require every store with a sales area of more than 100 m2 to accept empty packaging and packaging waste generated from packaging covered by the deposit-refund system and to refund deposits. Smaller retail outlets will be able to accept such packaging and packaging waste and refund deposits on a voluntary basis. All retail outlets will, however, be required to charge deposits.

Who will create the deposit-refund system?

Ministry: – The deposit-refund system will be created by companies placing beverages in packaging on the market. The proposed regulations nevertheless give businesses considerable freedom in this regard, while specifying the conditions that such a system should meet.

Deputy Minister: –

The draft act does not impose on businesses creating the system a specific method for collecting packaging and packaging waste. They will therefore be able to rely exclusively on the collection of packaging and waste by stores, but may also install bottle-return machines in and outside stores.

Details are available at

gov.pl and in the presentation below:

577360459