Poland's deposit system sees 121 million PLN in unreturned fees

Poland's deposit return system, which became active in late 2025, has seen significant financial activity. According to data from the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the value of unreturned deposits in 2025 exceeded 121 million PLN. Of the total deposits collected, approximately 728,800 PLN were returned to consumers.

The Ministry clarified that this large sum should not be viewed as direct profit for system operators or as a total loss for consumers, noting that many containers purchased at the end of the year may be returned in subsequent months. These funds are intended to finance system operations, including the collection, transport, and sorting of packaging.

Despite the scale of the funds, the Ministry stated it does not yet possess sufficient data to determine the full operational costs of the system. Additionally, certain products remain exempt from the system, such as plastic bottles with a capacity exceeding 3 liters and glass bottles over 1.5 liters. Some mineral water brands also continue to be sold without a deposit requirement.