Lidl Poland’s bottle‑return network hits half‑billion containers recycled

Lidl Poland, the first Polish retailer to install deposit‑return machines in every store, announced that customers have returned more than 500 million beverage containers through its system. The milestone was reached in June 2026, with 85 % of the returned items bearing the deposit logo.

The highest single‑store volumes were recorded in Wieliczka (73,750 plastic bottles) and Gdynia (38,612 metal cans). The machines accept both deposit‑labelled and older non‑labelled containers, and customers can redeem the generated coupons for cash or discounts at any Lidl outlet nationwide.

Lidl’s corporate‑relations director, Aleksandra Robaszkiewicz, highlighted the result as evidence that the deposit system has become a routine part of Polish shopping habits and underlined the retailer’s ongoing efforts to optimise machine operation and staff support.