Poland to Introduce Deposit Scheme for Small Alcohol Bottles Amid Industry Opposition
The Polish government plans to extend the national deposit‑return system to "małpki," the small 0.5‑liter bottles of alcoholic drinks. Minister of Climate Paulina Hennig‑Kłoski said the move aims to boost recycling and cut litter, targeting the roughly 494 million bottles sold in the past year, a market worth about 6.3 billion zł.
Industry groups, including the Polish Chamber of Commerce and owners of small shops, warn the new requirement could impose costly new logistics for handling hundreds of thousands of tonnes of additional waste each year. Some retailers already report monthly losses of 2–2.5 thousand zł from the existing deposit system and fear the change could accelerate the disappearance of small outlets – about 25 thousand have closed in the past decade.
A separate proposal would raise the fee on "małpki" by up to 400%, officially framed as a measure to combat alcohol abuse but also viewed as a way to increase state revenues. Critics argue the higher cost may simply shift consumers toward larger bottles, undermining the intended public‑health and environmental benefits.