Poland launches direct‑refund deposit return machines in Warsaw

Poland’s deposit‑return system is expanding with the first neighborhood “kaucjomat” installed in the Młocin district of Warsaw. The unit operates 24 hours a day, accepts up to 3 000 PET bottles or 7 000 cans per day and refunds the deposit directly to a user’s bank card, eliminating the need for paper vouchers.

The pilot, run by operator PolKa in partnership with the local cooperative WSM Młociny and technology firm Recyclo, is part of a broader aim to raise collection rates from the current 77 % to 90 % as required by law. By May, Polish consumers had already returned around 1.6 billion containers, 85 % of them through automated points. The new machines are meant to increase accessibility beyond retail stores, encouraging more residents to recycle by locating the devices near homes and transport hubs.

PolKa plans to roll out additional units across Warsaw and other cities, with the ultimate goal of a nationwide network that makes returning bottles and cans as convenient as everyday shopping.