Poland faces challenges with deposit system and Sunday trading bans

Poland is navigating significant shifts in retail and waste management regulations. In the waste sector, a new deposit system implemented in October 2025 has faced criticism for requiring consumers to return uncrushed bottles to ensure machine recognition. To address this, engineers from a company near Warsaw are developing EcoAction recyclomats, which use technology to restore the shape of crushed bottles for easier processing.

Economic pressures are also mounting as the product fee for retailers not participating in the deposit system is set to increase fivefold next year. Additionally, the National Chamber of Waste Management has noted that the deposit system is reducing municipal revenues, potentially increasing waste disposal costs for Polish families by up to 1,000 PLN annually.

Simultaneously, public debate continues regarding the Sunday trading ban. A study by UCE Research and Shopfully Poland indicates that 60.5 percent of consumers favor easing current restrictions, with 27.5 percent supporting shops opening every Sunday. While men show higher support for liberalization, nearly one third of the population prefers maintaining or tightening the current rules.