Can Poland afford a bail system? Delloite estimates investment and operating costs
The bail system was discussed by participants Interzero 2024 Environmental Conference. From left, Monika Richardson, Joanna Leoniewska-Gogola from Deloitte, Paweł Sosnowski from Interzero, Joanna Szubielska from Eurocash, Maria Andrzejewska from UNEP/GRID-Warszawa and Dariusz Lizak from KIGPR.
Can Poland afford a bail system? Delloite estimates investment and operating costs
In just a few months, a deposit system will start operating in Poland. In view of the impending revolution in the packaging market, Delloite contacted all stakeholders and estimated the costs of implementing and operating the system in our country.
More than 37bn over 10 years - that's how much we will pay for the bail system by 2034.
In the 2024 published in September. Report Bail system in Poland - costs, prospects, opportunities Delloite experts have calculated the cost of implementation of the bail-in system for more than PLN 37 billion over the first 10 years functioning.
- By 2034. the investment cost alone will amount to PLN 14.2 billion. More than 60% of this amount will be spent on building work to make the shops suitable for collection. Another item in the cost structure is the purchase of bottle machines, which will consume more than 20% of the amount indicated.
The authors of the report assumed that the collection of all types of packaging covered by the Polish deposit system would be carried out in a mixed way, both manually (using bag systems) and automatically, using verification and destruction machines for the deposit system (e.g. Sielaff bottle machines). Estimated the cost of implementing automatic collection will amount to PLN 12.5 billion and manual collection to PLN 0.9 billion.
- The 10-year cost of the Polish bail system will turn out to be even higher, which may amount to PLN 24.3 billion in the optimistic scenario and PLN 21.7 billion in the pessimistic one. For the time being, experts assume that the intermediate, realistic scenario will come true, and the The operating cost of the bail-in system between 2025 and 2034 will close at PLN 23.1 billion.
Cost of operating bail system dependent on pace of change implementation
From 2025 onwards, the annual cost of operating the bail system will gradually increase. In the most likely scenario in the first year of the system's operation it will be 0.9 billion, and after 10 years it will be 2.9 billion. According to Delloite specialists' estimates, by 2034 total operating costs will reach £23.1bn, of which:
- 38,91% will be earmarked for automatic collection in shops,
- 26.5% will cover the cost of manual collection at logistics and counting centres,
- 20,24% will go to a manual collection run in shops,
- 14,17% will be allocated for automatic collection at counting and logistics centres.
Estimated in the report the operating costs of the deposit scheme may in fact change and quite significantly. The final amount will depend, among other things, on the level of collection, the amount of unclaimed deposit for packaging and the rate at which the employees operating the bottle and bag systems and those working in the logistics centres are introduced to their new responsibilities. Importantly, the macroeconomic assumptions of the presented forecast may also change. For the purposes of the report, it has been assumed that the consumer price index (CPI) will decline from 11.4% in 2023 to 2.9% in 2027, with fluctuations of no more than 0.2 pp in subsequent years. Nominal wage growth will also decelerate, as assumed, from 11.9% in 2023 to 5.4% in 2027-2034.
Costly collection of plastic bottles
The referenced Delloite report also presents the investment costs of implementing a deposit system, broken down by the types of packaging covered. As it turns out, more than half of the expenditure (7.5 billion over 10 years) will be related to the collection of plastic bottles. Much less, 3.6 billion, will be invested in the collection of metal cans. Reusable glass bottles will not be included in the deposit system until 2026, one year later than other types of packaging. Investment outlays for their collection are the lowest - according to Delloite estimates, they will total PLN 3.1 billion by 2034.
To read more about the costs, opportunities and prospects of the bail system, read in the latest Delloite report.
15 September Packaging Day. How has the packaging industry changed in the last year?
Packaging Day was established in 2007 by the Polish Chamber of Packaging. Its aim was to spread awareness of the different types of packaging and to emphasise their role not only in everyday life, but also in the economy. Let us therefore take a moment to summarise the most important changes that have taken place in the past year in the packaging industry and beyond.
Implementation of the SUP Directive
Adopted in 2019. Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the environmental impact of certain plastic products (so-called SUP Directive) will not be implemented in Poland until 2023. From May 2023 onwards. further obligations entered into force, the effects of which were felt not only by packaging producers, but also by consumers:
- 24 May 2023. 9 categories of plastic products and packaging were banned from the market and mandatory labelling of single-use products containing plastic was introduced,
- 1 January 2024. charges have been introduced of £0.25 per unit for disposable cups and takeaway food packaging and
- On 1 July 2024, businesses were obliged to provide reusable alternatives to disposable packaging of plastics. Even before these changes came into force, Interzero had started offering customers a service Made4Loop, a deposit system for reusable packaging,
- From 1 July 2024, the following were also introduced obligation to affix nuts permanently attached to bottles or cartons.
The development of the bail system in Poland
In August 2023, it came into force an act setting out the legal framework for the operation of the bail system in Poland. Since then, multi-faceted work on the implementation of the system in our country has begun, which has included, among other things, the creation of further representative entities, the setting of deposit amounts for the various types of beverage packaging, the implementation of collection, logistics and deposit accounting systems, and the popularisation and installation of .
Every now and then, there were discussions in the packaging and bottling industry about the need for changes to the system even before it took off. These resulted in, among other things. delaying the inclusion of reusable glass bottles in the deposit system and excluding milk bottles from the system and other dairy products.
At Interzero, we have also been counting down the days until the start of the bail system. So that we can continue to provide our customers with comprehensive waste management solutions, we have entered into cooperation with the manufacturer of bottle dispensers, the Sielaff brandbecoming its exclusive representative in Poland. We have also expanded our portfolio of services to include comprehensive service of bail systemsh addressed to retailers, introducers and representative entities.
Interzero 2024 Environmental Conference - a glimpse into the future of the packaging industry in Poland
The annual Environmental Conference organised by Interzero is a a great opportunity to take stock of the past yearbut also to prepare for the future that the legislator has in store for the entire packaging industry.
Already on 18-20 September 2024 at the Sopot Sheraton Among other things, we will talk about the latest preparations for the implementation of the deposit system, innovative circular business solutions and the PPWR packaging regulationwhich could soon turn the functioning of the packaging industry upside down. On the second day of the Conference, we will hear a discussion on the costs of implementing PPWR and about the biggest challenges in the design, production and recycling of packaging. Interzero's representative will be Vice President Paweł Lesiak, who will share, among other things, the experience gained in designing ecological packaging for Interzero's customers as part of the Made4Circle services.
For the full agenda of the Interzero 2024 Environmental Conference and a link to registration, see event page.
Universal USB-C charger - the new EU standard
Why will a universal USB-C charger be the standard for all devices?
The USB-C universal charger will be standard for all by the end of 2024. Why? This is a top-down order from the European Union, which is primarily aimed at directing consumers towards greener purchasing choices.
Under EU rules, all phones, tablets and cameras sold in the EU will have to have a USB Type-C port by the end of 2024, and from spring 2026 the requirement will also be extended to laptops.
From this article you will learn:
- what type of chargers dominate the market and why EU demands for devices with a charging port have arisen;
- which mobile devices will be affected and when the new rules will come into force;
- what direction the European Parliament is going in with regard to waste and ecology in general.
Universal charger for all devices
Among the regulated devices were mobile phones, tablets, games consoles, electronic readers and others portable equipment. All those devices that charge by wire and that operate at up to 100 watts will have to be equipped with a USB Type C port - regardless of the manufacturer. This is a landmark decision that aims both to simplify the lives of consumers and to reduce the negative impact of electrical and electronic waste on the environment. The European Commission and the European Parliament have unanimously recognised that this solution will have a positive impact on the ecosphere and allow for a minimal reduction in consumerism.
Customers are to choose for themselves whether to purchase a new device with or without a charger. This should reduce the accumulation of electro-waste in homes and thus the dumping of electro-waste in inappropriate bins. The EU estimates that broken and unused chargers account for around 11,000 tonnes of waste. This is an intimidating amount - but the next question begs to be asked - what about chargers with other terminals when the EU's USB-C recommendations come into force?
Are all producers ready for change?
Research by the European Commission shows that half of all chargers sold in 2018 in the community countries used a USB micro-B connector. Only 29% had a USB-C type connector and 21% had a Lightning connector, used by Apple since 2012. Unifying chargers to one standard will result in many patented charging ports (such as Lightning from Apple) going out of use in Europe. Manufacturers are therefore making the argument that once chargers are standardised to USB-C, all other chargers that are already in consumers' homes will go in the bin. Researchers in an issue of the Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business examined the issue. In fact, as of 2019, only 29% phones sold in the European Union used USB-C chargers. Therefore, forcing a switch to USB-C would render nearly 71% chargers useless to consumers. Customers who buy newer devices with a USB-C port would no longer be able to reuse their older chargers with a different input.
Customer education - in line with new regulations. What changes will come in with the standardisation of device chargers?
However, if we look at the issue in a broader, long-term perspective, European citizens could save up to €250 million a year by standardising the charging standard, according to European Commission analyses. In addition to the economic benefits, the new regulations aim to reduce the quantities of waste electronics, which is an important step towards sustainability. Guidelines on charging requirements for products are to appear on device labels. Perhaps in a few years' time we will only need one charger for all the equipment in the home or office?
Click yet here! You can see how paper recycling is growing in Europe!♻️
How much is the deposit for bottles and cans? Check out the new rules!
We know the deposit rates for bottles and cans - check the current rates
On 16 July 2024, the long-awaited regulation of the Minister of Climate and Environment on the amount of the deposit for packaging covered by the deposit system was published. How much will the deposit for beverage bottles and cans be?
Deposit for bottles and cans in the Polish deposit system from 2025.
In the Polish deposit system, the amount of the deposit will depend on the type of packaging. According to the latest regulation, from 2025. deposit rates for bottles and cans will be as follows:
- disposable plastic bottles up to 3 l - PLN 0.50,
- metal cans up to 1 l - PLN 0.50,
- reusable glass bottles up to 1.5 litres - PLN 1.00.
The regulation was issued on the basis of the delegation contained in Article 40m(2) of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Management Act (OJ. 2013 item 888). According to its provisions, the amount of the deposit should provide an incentive to return packaging and packaging waste by consumers, while being set at a socially acceptable level. The maximum amount of the deposit specified in the law can be PLN 2. Therefore, the Ministry should monitor the situation in the first months and years of the bail system and react on an ongoing basis by updating the amount of the deposit.
The referenced regulation comes into force 14 days after promulgation and will become effective in the last days of July 2024.
Let us recall that the first draft of the regulation assumed the adoption of a uniform rate of PLN 0.50 for all packages covered by the deposit scheme. However, it was met with numerous objections from bottlers and representatives of the waste industry, who pointed out that the proposed deposit rate for reusable glass bottles is lower than the deposit currently used in private return schemes (£1).
Changes to the bail system - what have the last few weeks brought?
The final determination of deposit amounts for the different types of packaging covered by the deposit system is not the only news in the polish bail systemwhich have been presented to the public in recent weeks.
- The following entered the game another third bail system operator. On 17 July 2024, the Minister of Climate and Environment authorised the Entity representing OK Operator Bailout S.A. to set up a bailout system covering single-use plastic bottles and metal beverage cans.
- About a year the date for the mandatory inclusion of glass bottles in the deposit system has been postponed reusable packaging. Thus, the private collection systems currently in place for such packaging can legally operate until 2026.
- Milk containers have been excluded from the deposit system and other dairy products, which coincides with the demands of the dairy industry. Initially, the deadline for inclusion in the deposit scheme was to be postponed by one year (until 2026), but eventually the Ministry of Climate and Environment dropped the idea altogether.
- Logo of the bail system unveiledwhich will be affixed to all packaging covered by the Polish deposit system.
Get ready for a bail system with Sielaff bottle machines
Interzero is the only official distributor in Poland that cooperates with the renowned German manufacturer of bottle dispensers, Sielaff. Thanks to this cooperation, we offer our customers equipment of the highest quality, designed for durability, efficiency and advanced technology.
We offer full support - from advice and installation of the equipment to servicing and integration with IT systems. Our team of experts ensures that the implementation of bottle machines runs smoothly and that your company gains a modern tool tailored to your customers' needs. Check out the range of equipment at the link.
80% paper recycling in Europe | Latest CEPI 2023 data
Paper recycling rates in Europe are rising. Find out key figures from the CEPI 2023 report
On 9 July 2024, the CEPI's latest report was released, providing production statistics for the European paper sector for 2023. Data from the report shows a deepening decline in paper and board production. At the same time, the recycling rate of raw material is increasing, reaching almost 80% last year.
Decline in paper and board production in Europe reflects global trends
The year 2023 was marked by declines in the paper industry. As much as by 13% compared to 2022, the production of paper and board has decreased. It seems that recent years have been a downward slope for the paper industry - paper consumption (down 13.5% vs 2022) and pulp production (0 17.5% vs 2022) are also falling significantly. However, this is not a localised problem - in the corresponding period we are witnessing a global slowdown, which, however, is not as great as in Europe. The EU economy as a whole has lost momentum in the face of the high cost of living (including energy prices), tighter monetary policy and weak external demand.
The dynamics of the production of individual types of paper and board products in 2023 varied considerably. Compared to the previous year, the amount of cardboard packaging produced decreased by 11%, and newsprint volumes by 20.6%. The largest production decreases of 23.7% were recorded in the graphic paper category. Sanitary and household paper was the most resilient to the market turmoil, with this segment declining by only 3.4%.
80 per cent recycling rate - the paper industry is getting closer to the GOZ dream
From the point of view of the paper industry, the figures presented in the CEPI report are quite pessimistic. A breath of optimism, however, comes from the waste and recycling industry - in 2023. The average recycling rate for the EU-27, Norway, Switzerland and the UK was as high as 79.3% (an increase of 8.2 pp compared to 2022). Thus, 6 years ahead of schedule, the goal of the signatories of the European Declaration on Paper Recycling to achieve a 76% paper recycling rate by 2030 has materialised. The record high annual recycling rate shows the autonomy of the industry and brings it closer to becoming a reality. closed loop economy.
Interestingly, the recorded increase in 2023 is due to a significant - 12% - decrease in paper and board consumption. This means that not only the industry, but also consumers are becoming more aware and starting to reduce their consumption of paper products and cardboard and paper packaging.
CEPI 2023 report shows progress in decarbonising the paper industry
Despite a number of results under the radar, the paper sector also has reason to be satisfied. For many years The decarbonisation of the industry is progressing gradually. In 2023, CO2 emissions fell by a further 5.8%, which means that a total of more than 46% of carbon emission reductions have already been achieved since 2005.
As the CEPI Director General's message reads:
"Given the context, the pulp and paper industry in Europe can be proud of what it has achieved in terms of climate action and closed loop. In a more conducive and predictable regulatory environment, our prospects could be very positive and our contribution to the EU Green Deal even greater."
In view of the decarbonisation targets set by the European Commission, it is estimated that emissions will be reduced even faster in the coming years. The condition, however, is to continue to increase investment, which, in the current difficult market situation, is one of the biggest challenges.
Source: European pulp & paper industry. Key statistics 2023, CEPI, https://www.cepi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Key-Statistics-2023-FINAL.pdf
Raw materials for paper production - what is paper made of in Europe?
What paper is made of - types and species of trees
The primary production of paper in Poland and throughout Europe uses softwood (75% production) and hardwood (25% production). It mainly comes from managed forests, where there is planned silviculture of trees to be felled. Another source of wood is the so-called maintenance felling of the remaining forests carried out in order to provide the neighbouring trees with optimal conditions for growth and crown development.
The most popular wood species for paper production are:
- Spruce - 40.5%,
- pine (so-called pulpwood) - 35%,
- birch - 11.4%,
- eucalyptus - 9.1%,
- Beech - 1.5%,
- aspen - 1.2%
- others (hornbeam, ash, maple, acacia, oak, alder, poplar, willow, chestnut) - 1.3%.
The decline in paper production recorded in recent years also translates into less interest in virgin raw material. In 2023, the volume consumption of softwoods is down by 1.1% and hardwoods by 5.7%.
Raw material for paper production "made in Europe"
According to the CEPI report, as much as 91% of the wood used for paper production in CEPI countries comes from their native forests. This is the highest rate since 2000 and a slight increase from 2022 (by 1 pp). Another 6.5 % is timber imported from EU countries that do not m. belong to CEPI. Thus, only 2.5% of wood comes from outside Europe. This means that Europe is almost self-sufficient in terms of raw material for paper production.
The role of recycled paper as a raw material should also be highlighted here. In 2023, in CEPI countries more than 53 million tonnes of waste paper and other paper waste were recycledthat have been reused in the manufacture of paper products. The leader here is cardboard - as much as 95% of cardboard and cardboard packaging is made from recycled paper.
Check, How paper is made in the first and subsequent circuits.
Wood chips - waste as raw material for paper production
In addition to the wood in the logs, wood chips are also used in paper production. These are small pieces of wood that arise as post-production waste from the furniture, lumber, packaging and joinery industries, among others. The scale of their use may surprise you - in 2023. as much as 21.4% of the total wood destined for the paper industry was wood chips.
According to the authors of the CEPI report, the use of industrial waste in the form of woodchips to produce paper is an important contribution to a circular economy. Although traditionally not considered as recycling by CEPI, this use of woodchips falls within its definition commonly accepted in the waste industry. Given the highest ever rate of paper recycling (almost 80%), it can be concluded that the CEPI countries have done their homework on circularity and are well on the way to creating a circular economy.
Source: European pulp & paper industry. Key statistics 2023, CEPI, https://www.cepi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Key-Statistics-2023-FINAL.pdf
Registration with BDO: Is it an obligation for every entrepreneur?
Registration with BDO: Is it an obligation for every entrepreneur?
What is BDO?
BDO (Database on products and packaging and waste management) is an IT system that is used to collect and manage waste management data. It allows electronic reporting and waste record keeping.
Who needs to register with BDO?
The obligation to register with BDO applies to both new companies and those that have been in business for many years. Registration must be obtained by entrepreneurs who:
- They generate waste and keep records of it.
- They market packaged products, vehicles, tyres, lubricating oils, batteries and accumulators to the Polish market.
- They produce or market packaging in Poland.
- They make intra-Community acquisitions of packaging.
- They introduce electrical and electronic equipment into the country.
- They run a shop or wholesale business and provide customers with plastic bags subject to a recycling fee.
Consequences of not registering with BDO
Lack of registration or incorrect registration with BDO can prevent businesses from fulfilling important environmental obligations and expose them to severe financial penalties. Failure to register can even be punished with a custodial sentence or a financial penalty of up to PLN 1,000,000.
How do I register with BDO?
Get expert help from the company Interzero. Their BDO registration service includes:
- Establish the actual scope of your company's activities.
- Identify the departments to be entered and the codes of the waste generated.
- Preparation and submission of application for registration with BDO
Remember that the registration process can take up to 30 days after submission of the application, so it is not worth delaying the formalities.
Changes to the deposit system! We know what to do about VAT, deposit amounts, collection levels and dairy packaging!
Changes to the deposit system! We know what to do about VAT, deposit amounts, collection levels and dairy packaging!
As of 31 July 2024, a decree from the Minister of Climate and the Environment came into force regulating the amount of deposits for all types of packaging that will be included in the deposit system.
We would like to remind you that, in accordance with the regulation, the deposit per package will be:
- For single-use plastic beverage bottles of three litres or less, including their plastic caps and lids, excluding glass or metal beverage bottles with plastic caps and lids - 50 pence
- For metal cans up to one litre also - 50 cents
- For reusable glass bottles up to one and a half litres, one zloty.
Read the regulation of the Minister of Climate and Environment on the amount of the deposit.
And what's new in the Bill amending the UD45 bail scheme regulations following changes arising from the public consultation?
A bill amending the bail system (UD45) has been published on the website of the Government Legislative Centre.
The most important provisions concern:
- closing the bail circulation, which will help to seal the system and make it easier to monitor the flow of bail,
- Reduce the level of separate collection of packaging and packaging waste to a fixed threshold of 77% between 2025 and 2028,
- exemptions from the collection of milk and milk product packaging,
- Increasing the role of the Minister as a supervisor of operators' activities,
- an increase in the product fee,
- regulation of VAT,
- introducing a provision for so-called reverse logistics.
The full document can be found on the Government Legislation Centre website. We encourage you to take a look at it at the link.
The final countdown to the introduction of a bail system in Poland is underway! The deadline of 1 January 2025 remains binding.
Keep up to date on the bail system in Poland and Follow our LinkedIn profile
Valuing Waste through the Interzero Waste Platform - earn from the sale of raw materials
Valuing Waste through the Interzero Waste Platform - earn from the sale of raw materials
Interzero waste platform is a dedicated online system that enables comprehensive waste management for your company. With it, you can reduce waste management costs, automate waste records in BDO and increase revenue from raw material sales.
The platform allows for the automatic recording of waste, scheduling of collections and generation of waste collection notifications.. This tool saves time and minimises potential errors in the system.
What is waste pricing?
Interzero's waste valuation is a convenient solution that takes the hassle out of finding waste collection companies. It is also a form of earning money from raw materials. If you produce or store the types of waste valued by recyclers, you can sell them at a profit and save on waste disposal and logistics costs. Interzero's waste platform allows you to compare quotes and choose the best offer.
All you need to do is fill in the form, state the type and quantity of waste and our specialists will contact you. You can also attach a photo of your waste if you are having trouble identifying the correct code!
The platform generates clear cost reports, allowing you to quickly obtain the information you need. You can track income and costs related to donated waste and municipal payments for municipal waste collection.
If you need more information, visit Interzero Waste Platform.
Product fee for franchising | Transfer obligation to Interzero
Franchisee product fee: how much is it and how to avoid it?
Entrepreneurs running franchise outlets often offer their customers drinks and food in disposable takeaway packaging. Such packaging is subject to either a recycling obligation or a product fee (if the required recycling rate is not achieved), which should be paid by the franchisee and not by the franchisor. How much is the product fee and can the franchisee avoid it?
Division of responsibilities between the franchisee and the brand owner
Running a franchise outlet takes many responsibilities off the entrepreneur's shoulders. The franchisee usually does not have to worry about, among other things, developing its own business model, designing new services, expanding its product portfolio or acquiring technical support and IT tools. These and other contractually defined tasks are usually carried out by the franchise partner in exchange for recurring royalties.
However, it should be borne in mind that the franchisor does not assume all of the franchisee's obligations - if you run a franchise outlet, you still have to meet at least your environmental obligations arising from the Packaging and Packaging Waste Management Act. One of these is the obligation to achieve the required level of recycling or to pay a product fee for the packaging introduced.
Are you a franchisee? You are obliged to pay a product fee!
Any entrepreneur who introduces packaged products must take responsibility for the waste that has been generated from these packages. They can do this in 2 ways: by ensuring that this waste is recycled or by paying a product fee for each kilogram of recycling not achieved. Contrary to appearances, This obligation does not only apply to producers, but also to, among others, franchisees who sell drinks and food in takeaway packages.
If you run a franchise outlet where you sell, for example, packaged coffee, meals or snacks, the onus is on you to account for these packages, not the franchisor. Even the fact that you sell all these products under the franchisor's brand does not change this.
Under current law, any franchisee introducing packaged products must:
- ensure that the resulting packaging waste is recycled,
- pay a product fee (if the required level of recycling is not achieved),
- conduct or finance public education campaigns.
These obligations derive from the provisions of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Management Act. According to an opinion taken from LEX Environmental Law:
The packaging of the meals served at the filling station is the responsibility of the operator of the filling station.
Source: https://www.prawo.pl/biznes/kto-ponosi-oplate-produktowa-za-opakowania-jedzenia-na-stacji,169823.html
By analogy, these provisions apply to companies operating other franchise outlets and dispensing drinks in takeaway cups, for example.
Does the mandatory product fee only apply to franchises?
No. The obligations: to recycle and to pay a product fee apply to all entrepreneurs indicated in the Act. However, our experience shows that it is frazioneers are often unaware of their obligations. Many entrepreneurs running franchise outlets mistakenly assume that recycling and the product fee remain with the franchisor, whose logo appears on all beverage and meal packaging. Such ignorance often has unpleasant consequences - Failure to comply with environmental obligations results in an immediate high product fee and, in some cases, a financial penalty.
Recall: the obligation to ensure recycling of packaging waste and to pay a product fee may also include franchisees operating:
- restaurants, pizzerias and other catering establishments,
- cafés (also mobile!), beverage outlets (e.g. bubble tea),
- petrol stations,
- shops,
- bakeries and confectioneries.
The above list is only exemplary - the obligatory product fee may also apply to other companies. At the same time, it is worth remembering that the Act provides for a number of exemptions from the obligation to pay the product fee.
Do you want to check whether the product fee applies to you?
What packaging is covered by the product charge?
The following are subject to a product fee on packaging and packaged products including, but not limited to, all packaging in which food and take-away drinks are packed, e.g:
- beverage cups,
- lids and cup lids,
- utensils, e.g. plates, bowls,
- food containers (with or without lids): boxes, trays, boxes, buckets, paper packaging for popcorn or chips.
As a franchisee introducing packaged products, you are obliged to keep records of such packaging broken down by the type of materials from which it was made. Such records are the basis for determining the amount of the product fee due, which is calculated on the basis of the weight of the introduced packaging for which the entrepreneur has not achieved the statutory level of recovery and recycling.
Amount of product fee - how much will a franchisee pay?
Different packaging materials are subject to different product fee rates. For the most common types of packaging for food and takeaway beverages, the rates of the product fee are as follows:
- plastic packaging - PLN 2.70/kg,
- paper and cardboard packaging - PLN 0.70/kg,
- multi-material packaging - PLN 1.70/kg,
- wood packaging - PLN 0.30/kg,
- other packages - PLN 1/kg.
Although the amounts per kg of packaging are not very large, they already the amount of the product fee for the whole year often makes businesses dizzy. Importantly, the product fee for packaging can be avoided by fulfilling the recycling obligation. Each entrepreneur can do this on his or her own, ensuring the recycling of 100% of the packaging introduced, or with the help of the recovery organisation Interzero, without worrying about minimum recycling levels.
Pass on the obligation to Interzero and avoid the product fee
Meeting your environmental responsibilities is only a small fraction of all the challenges you face as an entrepreneur and franchisee. Fortunately, you can delegate some of your responsibilities to Interzero's environmental experts. This will not only save you time, but also money - for a small fee we will take over your obligation to recycle packaging waste and you will avoid a high product fee.
By entrusting your duty to Interzero, you gain:
- the fixed, low cost of taking over the obligation,
- the possibility to conclude a contract online in 3 easy steps,
- official confirmation of the correct execution of the obligation for the year in question,
- Convenient access to documents relating to the assumption of responsibility via the My Interzero portal,
- a certificate for your company and an annual report on the conduct of Public Education Campaigns.
Find out how much you will save by handing over your recovery and recycling duty to Interzero!