Poland's container deposit scheme hits record and eyes expansion

In June 2026 Poland's container‑deposit system recorded the return of about 700 million bottles and cans, bringing the total collected since the scheme launched on 1 Oct 2025 to 2.3 billion containers. The network now comprises roughly 64 000 return points, including 34 000 small‑shop locations and 14 000 automated kiosks, which handle about 87 % of all returns.

The Ministry of Climate and Environment plans to broaden the scheme. Draft legislation aims to add multi‑material milk cartons and single‑use glass containers – commonly called “małpki” – to the deposit list, with the first new categories potentially entering the system in 2027 and full implementation by 2029. Industry groups have voiced concerns about the costs of new collection equipment and logistics, arguing that the added categories could raise producers’ fees several‑fold.

A separate survey by Mastercard found that 85 % of Polish consumers consider front‑of‑store deposit machines convenient, and more than half would like similar devices in residential areas. Meanwhile, the system’s operator reported only isolated cases of fraud involving counterfeit stickers and scanner errors, indicating that large‑scale abuse has not materialised.