Poland waste management faces revenue crisis from deposit system

deposit system waste management recycling revenue PET bottles municipal fees

The implementation of the deposit system in Poland is causing significant economic shifts in the waste management sector. While the system successfully diverts valuable materials like PET bottles and aluminum cans from the general waste stream, it has stripped municipal waste systems of a major source of revenue.

Reports indicate that the volume of PET bottles in municipal waste has dropped by approximately 50 percent. This loss of high-value recyclables is creating budget deficits for local governments. For example, Kraków's Municipal Cleaning Company estimated a revenue loss of 9.5 million PLN in the first half of 2026, while Warsaw's MPO anticipates losses of roughly 20 million PLN this year. In Żory, officials noted a statistical decrease in waste fractions of about 10 percent.

To compensate for these lost revenues, local governments are warning of potential increases in waste collection fees for residents, with some estimates suggesting hikes of up to 30 percent. Industry experts and municipal leaders note that while the ecological goals of the deposit system are being met, the financial burden is shifting from producers to municipalities and households.

Entities

European Union · Kraków Municipal Cleaning Company · Ministry of Climate and Environment · National Chamber of Municipal Economy · Poland · Polish Chamber of Waste Management · Warsaw MPO

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] The amount of PET packaging has decreased by approximately 50 percent. www.radio90.pl · superbiz.se.pl
[○ 1 SOURCE] Kraków's Municipal Cleaning Company estimated a revenue loss of 9.5 million PLN in the first half of 2026. superbiz.se.pl
[○ 1 SOURCE] Paweł Mej collected thousands of cans and bottles to donate the deposit funds to charity. www.biznesinfo.pl
[○ 1 SOURCE] There has been a noticeable decrease in the amount of PET bottles entering the waste stream. www.radio90.pl
[○ 1 SOURCE] In Żory, there has been a statistical decrease in waste fractions of approximately 10 percent, or about 10 megagrams. www.radio90.pl
[● 2 SOURCES] Local governments warn that waste collection fees could increase by up to 30 percent. superbiz.se.pl · forsal.pl
[○ 1 SOURCE] EU regulations target plastic recycling rates of 55% by 2025, 60% by 2030, and 65% by 2035. www.biznesinfo.pl
[○ 1 SOURCE] Warsaw's MPO estimates potential losses of approximately 20 million PLN this year. superbiz.se.pl
[○ 1 SOURCE] Municipal installations lost approximately 50 percent of revenue from raw material sales in the first half of 2026 due to the deposit system. zinfo.pl