'Waiting for bail' - what Poles know about the bail system... and what they don't know
First steps towards cleanliness
From October 2025, a deposit system for selected beverage packaging will start to operate in Poland. This is in response to the challenges of littering public spaces and meeting EU requirements related to the level of collection of this waste. The new mechanism, enshrined in the Packaging Management Act, is to cover plastic bottles up to 3 litres, aluminium cans up to 1 litre and reusable glass bottles up to 1.5 litres. The system, which aims to simplify segregation and reduce waste, will be based on a deposit - a fee that will be received back after, for example, an aluminium can has been handed in at an appropriate point.
Are Poles ready for change?
As the second part of the report shows "In the pitfalls of disposability - waiting for bail"., compiled by Interzero on the basis of qualitative and quantitative research carried out by Opinia24, awareness of the system is at varying levels. One in four Poles does not know at all that any moment now there will be more returnable packaging in our country, which will have to be returned to shops to get some of their money back. On the other hand, 77% of those surveyed are aware of its imminent introduction, but only 32% correctly indicate that returning bottles does not require crushing, tearing off labels or caps. This lack of awareness may encourage the spread of ignorance and misrepresentation about the new system and, as a result, erode confidence in the new mechanism.
Concerns and hopes
According to the survey, Poles expect the system to be simple and convenient, but at the same time they are concerned about its inconvenience. Nearly 42% of those surveyed are worried that packaging cannot be returned in every shop, and 41% are concerned about excessive distances to return points. There are also many unfounded doubts about the need for a receipt (40%), which will not need to be kept to return cans and bottles. A key element will therefore be proper education clearly explaining how the system works and the availability of the infrastructure on which the convenience of using the deposit system depends.
Bail system in Europe
In many countries of the European Union bail systems have been operating successfully for years. In Germany, for example, the return rate for packaging exceeds 98%, which shows how effective this form of separate collection and diversion of packaging for recycling can be. Key success factors are clear rules, the availability of return points (including vending machines) and a sufficiently high deposit rate.
Why is this important?
A deposit system is not only a way to a cleaner environment, but also an opportunity to make better use of secondary raw materials. At a time when the Single Use Plastic Directive is forcing changes in the packaging economy, such solutions are essential.
Read the full report
Second part of the report "In the pitfalls of disposability - waiting for bail". contains detailed analysis, data and recommendations. If you are interested in how the bail system will affect our daily lives, or want to see how you compare with the answers, be sure to read the whole thing on our website. Get ready for change and become part of the solution, not the problem!