Poland's deposit system hits record 700 million containers returned

Poland's container‑deposit scheme, launched on 1 October 2025, covers plastic bottles up to 3 L, metal cans up to 1 L and, from 2026, reusable glass bottles up to 1.5 L. In June the system recorded a new high, with about 700 million bottles and cans returned, bringing the cumulative total to roughly 2.3 billion containers for the year, according to the Ministry of Climate and Environment.

The network now comprises around 64 000 return points, including about 34 000 small retail locations and 14 000 collection machines that handle roughly 87 % of all returns. Experts warn that consumers who do not redeem their vouchers can lose up to 160 zł (≈$35) per year, as paper vouchers are often misplaced or expire after 30 days. The Ministry is considering expanding the scheme to include additional glass formats and single‑use glass bottles later in the year.