Poland: MPs Propose Ending Bottle Deposit System

9 August 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Konfederacja MPs filed a bill to repeal the bottle deposit system in Poland. The proposal could reshape recycling rules and obligations under EU law.

MPs have filed a bill that could end Poland’s bottle deposit system. The proposal reached the Sejm on 6 August 2026 and bears registration RPW/27019/2026. However, the change remains only a proposal at this stage.

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What happened and what it means

A group of Konfederacja MPs, led by Grzegorz Płaczek, submitted the draft law. Consequently, the document now awaits analysis by the parliamentary legislative office. Moreover, the bill went the same day to the Office for Regulatory Impact Assessment. Therefore, the measure must clear several procedural steps before it could change the law.

bottle deposit system: current rules and costs

The deposit scheme started on 1 October 2025. Present rules add a 50 grosz deposit to PET bottles and cans. In addition, refillable glass bottles carry a 1 zł deposit. However, shops only charge a deposit on marked products. Consequently, customers must return clearly labelled containers to reclaim money. Moreover, you do not need the receipt to get your deposit back.

Why this matters for expats

First, nothing changes at tills today. You still pay the deposit on marked drinks. Second, consumers must keep bottles and cans uncrushed if they intend to return them. Therefore, households now store empties to ensure the barcode stays readable. Moreover, machines that accept returns have caused early complaints. Consumers reported full machines or rejected items in the first months.

Political and legal context

Konfederacja argues the system costs businesses money. They point to transport, storage and automated-return infrastructure. However, EU targets still bind Poland. The bloc required a 77 percent selective collection of single-use plastic bottles in 2025. In addition, the EU set a 90 percent target for 2029. Therefore, scrapping the current scheme would still obligate Poland to reach those goals by other means.

Furthermore, EU rules demand recycled content in PET bottles. Consequently, producers must use at least 25 percent recycled material from 2025. Moreover, that share rises to 30 percent by 2030. Therefore, effective collection links directly to material supply for local bottlers.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you live in Poland, keep marked bottles and cans if you plan to reclaim deposits. Shops list the deposit as a separate line on receipts. You do not need a receipt to return an item. Also, national obligations from EU law mean lawmakers must still meet recycling targets. Polish terms you might hear: “kaucja” means deposit, “Sejm” means the lower house of parliament, and “PESEL” refers to the national ID number.

What happens next depends on political will and legal checks. The bill’s full text remains unpublished. Therefore, we do not know proposed transition dates or rules for already-collected deposits. Moreover, operators and shops invested in machines and logistics. Consequently, opponents ask how the state would compensate or repurpose that infrastructure.

For now, follow current rules. Do not crush marked bottles you plan to return. Keep them readable and bring them to a participating point. Finally, expect debate in parliament and regulatory scrutiny before any change reaches the shops.

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