Poland's deposit return system expands with new retail support

Poland's deposit return system is expanding beyond traditional retail stores, necessitating increased local communication to ensure consumers can effectively use new collection points. As infrastructure grows, experts emphasize that awareness of where and how to return packaging is as vital as the machines themselves.

To support smaller retailers who may find the investment in recycling machines (recyklomaty) cost-prohibitive, OK Operator and RVM Systems have announced a partnership. This initiative allows shops, particularly those under 200 square meters, to offer automated collection services without upfront purchase or maintenance costs. Under this model, the operator manages the technical aspects and provides remuneration to the shop for the collected packaging.

Separately, the Ministry of Climate and Environment addressed the legality of non-system collection points, such as a machine at Kraków-Balice Airport that trades packaging for tree planting rather than cash deposits. The Ministry clarified that while the official statutory system will be in effect by October 2025, private entities may operate parallel collection points provided they clearly inform consumers that the process is not part of the official deposit return system and does not involve cash refunds.