The deposit system is about to change. An important voice from the government
The government plans to add the so-called monkeys to the deposit system, but at the earliest in two years – according to the declaration of Deputy Minister of Climate Anita Sowińska.
A deposit system has been in place in Poland since October last year. 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).
The six-month operation of the system was assessed in RMF FM by Anita Sowińska, deputy minister of climate and environment, responsible for the deposit system in the ministry. – When it comes to the deposit system, I feel like I delivered, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things that can be improved. We have meetings with operators to repair the system. We carry out inspections of large stores. We want these inspections to contribute to improving the system – Sowińska said in “Afternoon conversation RMF FM”.
Inspections are carried out by the Provincial Inspectorates of Environmental Protection (WIOŚ).
“Monkeys” in the deposit system? In two years at the earliest
During the conversation, the topic of including the so-called monkeys that currently litter, among others, lawns. The deputy head of the Ministry of Climate and Environment emphasized that the government is working on it, but it is a huge logistical challenge, so such a change will be possible in 2028 at the earliest. Sowińska pointed out that as many as 63 percent Poles support this idea.
A recent survey by SW Research for “Wprost” shows that as many as three quarters of Poles (75.1%) return bottles or cans under the deposit system. Every fourth respondent (24.9%) does not return the packaging.
Women use the deposit system slightly more often (77.5%), but also among men the percentage of “yes” responses exceeded 70%. (72.6%). However, such declarations were most often submitted by people from cities with a population of 100,000 to 200,000. inhabitants (85%). Lack of interest in the deposit system was most often declared by respondents with primary/lower secondary education (32.8%).
