Poland rolls out 500 new deposit‑return machines to boost bottle and can recycling

Poland plans to install at least 500 publicly accessible deposit‑return machines, called recyclomats, across major cities such as Warsaw, Poznań, Gdańsk, Łódź and the Silesian region. The devices will accept empty PET bottles, metal cans and glass containers marked with the deposit symbol, and refund the deposit directly onto a payment card, eliminating the need for paper vouchers.

The initiative follows the 2025 introduction of a deposit system that also covers aluminium cans up to one litre. Poland already achieves collection rates of 75‑80 % for aluminium, far ahead of many other countries. Most aluminium is melted in a plant in Konin, owned by a Swedish firm, saving up to 95 % of the energy required for primary aluminium production. Analysts note that expanding domestic processing capacity could turn Poland into a leader in high‑value aluminium recycling.

Together, the new machines and the expanded deposit scheme aim to make recycling more convenient for households, increase material recovery, and support the circular economy.