Poland's deposit return system hits one billion containers, shifts to instant card refunds and public recycling machines

Poland's deposit return system, launched on 1 October 2025, has reached a significant milestone, with the number of deposit-bearing containers in circulation surpassing one billion. The system, which covers PET bottles up to 3 litres, metal cans up to 1 litre, and reusable glass bottles up to 1.5 litres, is reshaping the country's retail and recycling landscape. Early data from the Ministry of Climate and Environment indicates that over 60% of PET bottles were returned for recycling within the first four months, a rate unattainable through traditional waste segregation alone.

A logistical and technological stress test

The rapid uptake has shifted the primary challenge from encouraging returns to managing the sheer volume of containers. The efficiency of reverse vending machines is now critical, with a stark difference emerging between standard units handling 400–500 items and high-capacity models like the EcoAction, which can process up to 2,000. A record set by a single EcoAction machine, which accepted 7,851 containers in just eight hours, underscores the growing importance of throughput and device availability.

I am very pleased with this achievement, and most of all, it shows that as the deposit system matures, the efficiency and quality of available technologies become increasingly important.

The logistical burden on shops is heavy, with frequent emptying of machines and storage of full bags posing major challenges. The EcoAction technology addresses this by baling bottles and cans directly inside the unit into a compact 'EasyCube' bale, the size of a washing machine, which holds the equivalent of twelve 120-litre bags of lightly crushed containers.

The end of paper vouchers

A major source of consumer frustration is being tackled: the paper voucher. In many large chains like Lidl and Biedronka, machines currently print a receipt that must be redeemed at a till in the same store, often within a limited time. New recyklomats, integrated with PolCard from Fiserv payment solutions, now allow users to receive their deposit directly onto a payment card or smartphone within seconds, eliminating paper entirely.

After accepting the packaging, the material is compressed to 93% and baled on the spot, which significantly reduces the volume of waste — the raw material from 12 120-litre bags fits into a single bale measuring 75 × 60 × 50 cm.

These advanced machines can also accept crushed containers by restoring their original shape for scanning. Around 400 such devices are planned for installation in public spaces and outside traditional shops by early 2026, with the network potentially growing to 1,200 units by the end of 2028.

Bringing collection to the community

A key weakness of the current system is that collection points are almost exclusively located in shops. A new partnership between Kaucja.pl and Recyclo Polska aims to change this by building a network of publicly accessible recyklomats. The first 500 machines will be installed in Warsaw near housing cooperatives and residential communities, with plans to expand to other major cities and transport hubs like railway stations.

This is a very important partnership for us because it allows us to significantly accelerate the construction of a genuinely functioning deposit system in Poland. We want it to be not only environmentally efficient but also as convenient as possible for users.

These public machines will offer the same instant card refund feature, making it possible to return containers close to home rather than only during a shopping trip.

Environmental impact and a glaring gap

The system is already showing tangible environmental results. During the fifth edition of the Clean Oder River campaign, volunteers reported a significant decrease in the number of plastic bottles and aluminium cans found on riverbanks. Organisers attribute this directly to the deposit system, citing Estonia's example where a similar scheme reduced PET bottle litter by 90%.

After this year's edition of our campaign, we can see that the number of plastic bottles and aluminium cans has decreased significantly. However, alcohol bottles, the so-called 'małpki', remain a problem. They were excluded from the system, even though they are among the most frequently found waste.

An estimated 1.3 to 3 million small alcohol bottles are sold daily in Poland, and their exclusion from the deposit scheme is seen as a major loophole undermining the system's full potential.

A quiet business revolution

The deposit system is more than an environmental policy; it is a profound business transformation. It ends the linear 'produce, sell, forget' model, forcing producers to finance the system, report packaging flows, and design for recyclability. Large players with scale and capital have an advantage, but smaller brands and local shops also see opportunities. A small shop that becomes a convenient return point can attract additional foot traffic and strengthen its reputation as a modern, responsible business. The system is also driving standardisation, as logistics and automated recovery increasingly take precedence over extravagant marketing-driven packaging designs.