Skip to content
Specialized Packaging Market Intelligence and Strategic AdvisoryPackaging Intelligence. Clearer Decisions. Stronger Growth.
SPI Regulation Tracker

Packaging rule · Poland · Deposit return

Poland deposit return system

Deposit return rule covering plastic, metal, glass in Poland, set by Ministry of Climate and Environment (Poland). Applies since 1 October 2025.

By the SPI teamRule ID PR-PL-001Source consulted 13 October 2026Verified 13 October 2026
Sourced facts

The rule

Recorded from the official source named below. Rates and dates are as the source states them on the date it was consulted.

Jurisdiction
Poland
Authority
Ministry of Climate and Environment (Poland)
Rule type
Deposit return
Materials
Plastic, Metal, Glass
Status
In force Enacted
Rate or target
0.5 PLN/containerPLN 0.50 for plastic bottles and cans; PLN 1 for reusable glass. Official page states start as October 2025 without exact day or legal act. Source gives the month only; the 1st is used as the date.
Adopted or published
1 October 2025
Applies from
1 October 2025
From the source

“System kaucyjny w Polsce działa od października 2025 roku”

Official source gov.pl: System kaucyjnyOfficial (government or regulator) · consulted 13 October 2026

Deadlines

Key dates

  1. Adopted or published 1 year ago

  2. Applies from 1 year ago

  3. Source consulted by the SPI team 1 day ago

  4. Re-checked by a second SPI team member 1 day ago

SPI analysis

What it means

SPI analysis Our reading of the official source above. Not legal advice; always rely on the official text.

SPI summary

Poland's deposit system has run since October 2025, covering plastic bottles up to 3 litres and metal cans up to 1 litre (PLN 0.50) and reusable glass bottles up to 1.5 litres (PLN 1).

In practice

Poland's deposit system has operated since October 2025, with a PLN 0.50 deposit on plastic bottles up to 3 litres and metal cans up to 1 litre, and PLN 1 on reusable glass bottles up to 1.5 litres. Containers need the deposit-system mark to qualify. Shops over 200 m2 selling covered beverages act as return points. For beverage producers, the system is set out in the Act on packaging and packaging waste management as amended in 2023, which ties selective collection targets to packaging collected through the deposit system.

Where the record is unclear

  • The gov.pl page gives October 2025 without a day and cites no legal act; the consolidated Act text consulted does not contain the 1 October 2025 start date.
  • Annex 1a collection percentages and any operator list were not available on the pages consulted.
  • Exemptions and transition rules for unmarked stock are not stated on the gov.pl page.

Where it sits in the tracker

  • One of 1 packaging rules we track in Poland, of which 1 are deposit return rules.
  • In all, 7 deposit return rules are tracked across 6 jurisdictions. Compare them below

Company profiles that map to this rule

Companies whose SPI profile lists this rule in its regulatory exposure, based on where they report selling. Not company-reported.

SPI analysis

Overview

Poland built its deposit system into the Act of 13 June 2013 on packaging and packaging waste management through the amending Act of 13 July 2023, published as Dz.U. 2023 poz. 18522. The amendment added the deposit system to the Act's scope (article 1(1)(5)), defined the deposit and the system in article 8, and set out the operating rules in articles 40g to 40p26. Unlike a single national operator model, the Polish law licenses several operators: each representing entity (podmiot reprezentujący) must be a joint-stock company seated in Poland with share capital of at least PLN 5,000,000, and needs a permit from the climate minister for up to 10 years (articles 40g and 40j)2.

The launch date was moved by the Act of 21 November 2024, Dz.U. 2024 poz. 1911. In a reply to a Sejm interpellation dated 27 December 2024, the ministry explained that the system would start on 1 October 2025 to give operators time to sign agreements with more than 80,000 shops, and that five permits had been issued in 20245.

A further amendment of 9 January 2026, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 174, responded to a deputies' bill aimed at protecting existing returnable glass systems with collection rates above 90%, by letting producers of reusable glass bottles stay outside the operators' systems until 31 December 202834.

Duties

Who must do what

Beverage producers and direct introducers

  • Reach the Annex 1a selective collection levels for each packaging type, counting only packaging collected through a deposit system (article 21a)6.
  • Mark packaging to show it is in the deposit system and the deposit amount, in the KAUCJA XX,YY format of Annex 4 (article 40l)2.
  • Producers of reusable glass bottles may meet the levels through their own collection system until 31 December 2028, notifying the climate minister within 3 months of first placing such drinks on the market (article 40h(2a) to (2c))3.

Representing entities (system operators)

  • Hold a deposit system permit from the climate minister before operating (article 40j(1))2.
  • Keep share capital of at least PLN 5,000,000 and own funds or a guarantee of at least half that amount (article 40g(3) and (6))2.

Shops selling covered drinks

  • Shops up to 200 m2 charge the deposit (article 44(1))2.
  • Shops over 200 m2 charge and refund the deposit and collect empty packaging (article 44(2))2.
  • Retail units over 2,000 m2 also run selective collection of packaging waste at their own cost (article 44(3))2.
  • Refund deposits without asking for proof of purchase, including for drinks in producer-run glass systems (article 44(2a))13.

Minister responsible for climate

  • Issue operator permits and set the deposit amount for each packaging type by regulation, up to PLN 2 (articles 40j and 40m)2.
Scope

Are you in scope?

Work through each question. The answers are the SPI team's reading of the sources cited.

  1. Is it a single-use plastic drinks bottle holding 3 litres or less?

    If yes
    It is item 1 of Annex 1a and carries the PLN 0.50 deposit.
    If no
    Larger single-use bottles are outside the deposit levels.

  2. Is it a metal can of up to 1 litre?

    If yes
    It is item 2 of Annex 1a, also at PLN 0.50.
    If no
    Cans over 1 litre are not listed.

  3. Is it a reusable glass bottle of up to 1.5 litres?

    If yes
    Item 3 of Annex 1a, PLN 1 deposit; joining an operator's system is voluntary until 31 December 2028.
    If no
    Single-use glass is not covered.

  4. Is the product a medicinal product, medical device or certain dietary food?

    If yes
    Article 8b excludes its packaging from beverage packaging.
    If no
    Apply the packaging tests.

  5. Does the package carry the deposit system mark?

    If yes
    Shops and machines refund the deposit.
    If no
    It is not in the system, and no refund is due.
Checklist

Compliance checklist

  1. Sign with a licensed operator

    By Before placing covered drinks on the market

    SPI analysis of the official text. Not legal advice; confirm with the text or counsel. Choose a representing entity holding an article 40j permit; reusable glass producers decide whether to join or to notify the minister of their own system.

    Evidence to keep Operator contract and permit reference, or the minister notification.

  2. Change labels to the deposit format

    By Before placing on the market

    Add the system mark and the KAUCJA XX,YY amount required by article 40l and Annex 4.

    Evidence to keep Approved artwork per SKU.

  3. Run down pre-system stock

    By Until stocks run out

    Packaging placed on the market before the system started may be sold without a deposit until sold or exhausted (article 9 of the 2023 amending Act).

    Evidence to keep Dated stock records separating pre-system and deposit packaging.

  4. Track collection against Annex 1a

    By Each year

    Levels are 77% for 2025, then 81%, 84% and 87%, reaching 90% from 2029, for each of the three packaging types.

    Evidence to keep Operator reports of collected versus placed quantities.

  5. Glass systems: confirm the transition

    By 2028-12-31

    Operators of existing glass return systems that notified by 31 March 2026 may continue on current terms until this date.

    Evidence to keep Copy of the 31 March 2026 notification.

  6. Brief shops by sales area

    By Now

    Map stores against the 200 m2 and 2,000 m2 thresholds in article 44 to set take-back and collection duties.

    Evidence to keep Store list with sales area and duty.

Enforcement

Enforcement and penalties

Who enforces
Administrative penalties under the Act on packaging and packaging waste management; permits issued and withdrawn by the minister responsible for climate
Powers
The minister grants and limits operator permits; administrative fines are imposed under article 57 of the amended Act.
Enforcement so far
To SPI's knowledge, no administrative fine under the deposit articles had been published by 14 October 2026.

Penalties

BreachPenaltyLegal basis
Running a deposit system without a permit (article 56(1)(10k))PLN 10,000 to PLN 1,000,000Article 57 of the Act of 13 June 2013, as amended by Dz.U. 2023 poz. 18522
Breaches including failure to charge the deposit in shops up to 200 m2 (article 56(1)(14) to (14b))PLN 10,000 to PLN 500,000Article 57 of the amended Act2
Other listed breachesPLN 10,000 to PLN 50,000, or PLN 500 to PLN 20,000, by categoryArticle 57 of the amended Act2

Penalty bands were added by the 2023 amendment and scale with the breach, from PLN 500 at the bottom to PLN 1,000,000 for unlicensed operation2. Missing collection levels has its own consequence through the product fee mechanism of the Act6.

Connections

How it fits with other rules

Timeline

History of the rule

  1. Sejm passes the amending Act creating the deposit system (Dz.U. 2023 poz. 1852).

  2. Climate minister issues five operator permits.

  3. Amending Act (Dz.U. 2024 poz. 1911) sets the start for 1 October 2025.

  4. Deposit system starts.

  5. Deputies table Sejm print 2112 on reusable glass systems.

  6. Amending Act adopted; published 17 February 2026 as Dz.U. 2026 poz. 174.

  7. Deadline for existing glass system operators to notify that they will continue.

  8. Today

  9. End of voluntary participation and transition for reusable glass systems.

  10. Collection level reaches 90% for all three packaging types.

Questions

Questions

What deposit does Poland charge?

PLN 0.50 on single-use plastic bottles up to 3 litres and metal cans up to 1 litre, and PLN 1 on reusable glass bottles up to 1.5 litres. The law caps any deposit set by the minister at PLN 2 under article 40m.

When did the system start?

The system started on 1 October 2025, a date set by the Act of 21 November 2024. The original 2023 Act did not fix a launch date.

Who runs the Polish deposit system?

Licensed representing entities, which must be Polish joint-stock companies with at least PLN 5,000,000 of capital. The ministry issued five permits in 2024, so producers choose among several operators.

What collection rates are required?

Annex 1a sets 77% for 2025, rising to 90% from 2029, for plastic bottles, cans and reusable glass alike. Only packaging collected through a deposit system counts toward the level.

What are the fines?

Running a deposit system without a permit carries PLN 10,000 to PLN 1,000,000 under article 57. Failing to charge the deposit carries PLN 10,000 to PLN 500,000.

Glossary

Definitions

kaucja
A set sum of money charged when a product is sold, refunded on return of the packaging (article 8(6a)).6
system kaucyjny
A system in which a deposit is charged on the sale of products in single-use or reusable beverage packaging and refunded on return (article 8(13a)).6
podmiot reprezentujący
The joint-stock company seated in Poland, holding an article 40j permit, that runs a deposit system for producers (article 40g(2)).2
Sources

Sources for this analysis

  1. gov.pl: System kaucyjny Official · Consulted 14 October 2026
  2. Dz.U. 2023 poz. 1852: Act of 13 July 2023 amending the Act on packaging and packaging waste management and certain other acts Official · Consulted 14 October 2026
  3. Dz.U. 2026 poz. 174: Act of 9 January 2026 amending the Act on packaging and packaging waste management Official · Consulted 14 October 2026
  4. Sejm: print no. 2112, deputies' bill on beverage packaging collection systems (19 December 2025) Official · Consulted 14 October 2026
  5. Ministry of Climate and Environment: reply to Sejm interpellation 6943 (27 December 2024) Official · Consulted 14 October 2026
  6. Dz.U. 2024 poz. 927: consolidated text of the Act of 13 June 2013 on packaging and packaging waste management Official · Consulted 14 October 2026
  7. EUR-Lex: Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 on the system of own resources Official · Consulted 14 October 2026

Written by the SPI team on 14 October 2026. Sources checked as of 14 October 2026. SPI analysis, not legal advice; always rely on the official text.

Audit trail

Change history

Verified: a second SPI team member re-checked every fact above against the source on 13 October 2026. Any later change to the facts sends the rule back to Sourced and is logged here.

  1. Verified by a second SPI team member

  2. Added to the tracker

Spotted an error? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com quoting PR-PL-001 and the source. Corrections are logged in this history.

Other jurisdictions

Deposit return rules elsewhere

The same type of rule for the same materials in other jurisdictions, by the date it applies.

RuleWhereTypeMaterialsStatusApplies from
Ireland Deposit Return Scheme (Re-turn)PR-IE-001IrelandDeposit returnPlastic, MetalIn force1 February 2024
Austria deposit on single-use beverage containersPR-AT-001AustriaDeposit returnPlastic, MetalIn force1 January 2025
Portugal deposit and refund system (Volta)PR-PT-001PortugalDeposit returnPlastic, MetalIn force10 April 2026
Scotland deposit return scheme start moved to October 2027PR-GB-005Scotland, United KingdomDeposit returnPlastic, MetalAdopted, not yet applying1 October 2027
Deposit return scheme for drinks containers (England and Northern Ireland)PR-GB-004England, Northern Ireland, United KingdomDeposit returnPlastic, MetalAdopted, not yet applying1 October 2027
PPWR: 90% separate collection of beverage containers (deposit systems)PR-EU-007European UnionDeposit returnPlastic, MetalAdopted, not yet applying1 January 2029

Every deposit return rule in the tracker

ClosingAsk the SPI team

Ask the SPI team

Does this rule apply to your packs?

Tell us your products, materials and markets. An analyst maps the obligations, fees and deadlines that apply, with every source.

Request a briefing

Prefer email? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com.

Questions people bring
  1. Q1

    Which packaging rules apply to us in each market we sell in?

    We map each market's EPR, tax, ban, recycled-content, labelling and deposit rules against your materials and formats, and show which are in force, adopted or only proposed.

  2. Q2

    What could EPR fees and plastic taxes cost us next year?

    We apply published fee tables and tax rates to your tonnages and recycled content, and show the result as scenarios with every rate sourced.

  3. Q3

    Can you tell us when a rule changes?

    Yes. The free tracker alerts cover rule changes by country; a monitoring retainer adds monthly notes on what the changes mean for your portfolio.