One year of the deposit system. This is how many packages Poles returned
It will soon be a year since the deposit system was launched. So far, approximately 3 billion packages have been returned. Experts believe that the model itself has proved successful, but changes are necessary.
October 1 will mark one year since the launch of the deposit system in Poland. Under this scheme, a deposit of PLN 50 is added for drinks in plastic bottles and metal cans. For drinks in reusable glass bottles, there is a deposit of PLN 1. After drinking the drink, we can collect the deposit by returning the package to the store (without a receipt and to any store).
One year of the deposit system. What do experts expect?
During the first half of the year, Poles returned over 1 billion returnable packaging. The latest data from the Ministry of Climate and Environment show that by the end of July there were 3.2 billion packages. The ministry also informs that there are currently over 60,000 collection points and 17.5 thousand slot machines.
Experts admit that the model of the deposit system itself has proved successful. However, there are many unknowns. – Practice shows that legal provisions are unclear and it is often necessary to clarify them by the Minister of Climate and Environment – says Dagmara Czajka, legal advisor and environmental protection law expert at beADvised initiative, in an interview with Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
Czajka draws attention to the fact that a model was chosen in which there are many operators. However, there are no provisions that would specifically regulate the procedure to be followed if one of the operators stops operating the deposit deposit system. The settlement rules between the operators themselves are also unclear. – In particular, there are no rules for determining the so-called clearing fee – says the expert.
Exemption from the obligation to obtain a permit to collect packaging waste from non-professional waste collectors also turned out to be problematic. The newspaper’s interlocutor points out that the act does not specify who can benefit from such an exemption (e.g. whether a professional can also be covered by such an exemption).
– The multi-operator system has certainly worked because the companies have concluded the so-called agreement between operators, cooperate and, in most cases, settle deposits between themselves. Moreover, the system works in practice, so I believe that it is effective in this respect – assesses Aleksander Traple, president of the management board of Krajowy System Kauyjny Zwrotka SA
In his opinion, the availability of collection points is still insufficient and the number of vending machines remains below the expected level.
More supervision of operators necessary?
The president of Zwrotka believes that the Ministry of the Environment should exercise much greater supervision over operators. – The deposit collected from citizens should be transferred to a separate account, and the funds collected therein should only be used to return it, and not to finance the current operations of the operators. In Zwrotka we adopted such a principle, but it is not a uniform practice on the market. The Ministry should also pay attention to the timely settlement of deposits between operators and the trade; some stores even complain about several months of arrears in this respect – says Traple.
The daily reminds that by the end of 2028, producers can choose: join the operator’s system or conduct their own collection and achieve statutory levels. From 2029, there will no longer be a choice.
