Operation of the deposit system - services for producers, distributors and representing entities
Pursuant to the amendment to the Act on Packaging and Packaging Waste Management and certain other acts, from 2025 a deposit system will be introduced in Poland, covering single- and reusable beverage packaging. The regulations are addressed to producers introducing drinks in packages and distributors of drinks in packages covered by a deposit and impose a number of new legal obligations on them.
Are you a manufacturer or seller and are you joining the deposit-refund system as a participant? Do you need support in implementing new obligations under the Deposit Act? Do you want to create your own deposit system?
Take advantage of the knowledge of Interzero experts . We offer professional advice for companies creating and participating in the deposit system: for producers and distributors, as well as for representing entities. We provide comprehensive service for deposit systems , including: in the field of collection and logistics of packaging and packaging waste and their management.
Are you a manufacturer of beverages in packaging covered by the deposit system?
Do you know that:
- are you obliged to achieve a high statutory level of separate collection of packaging and packaging waste? In 2025 you need to collect 77% of them, and in 2029 as much as 90%,
- you must keep detailed records of packaging covered by the deposit system that you introduce to the market,
- are you obliged to put special marking on packaging subject to a deposit?
We will provide you with the implementation of statutory obligations and intuitive reporting and recording tools
We provide advisory and consulting services to companies introducing drinks in deposit-covered packaging. We also offer our clients a number of digital tools that will simplify and accelerate the implementation of legal obligations arising from the Deposit Act.
Thanks to Interzero services, you will gain:
- professional advice (including labeling of packages covered by a deposit),
- efficient settlement of deposits between participants of the deposit system (clearing),
- access to the Interzero Waste Platform – a digital tool for waste logistics management and BDO reporting,
- guarantee of access to recyclate in the amount required by law and consistent with the needs of your company,
- seamlessly achieving minimum statutory levels of separate collection and recycling of waste.
Are you a seller of drinks in packaging covered by the deposit system?
From 2025 Your responsibility is:
- concluding an agreement with at least one (and in the case of commercial space area 200m 2 – with each) entity representing in the deposit system,
- collecting a deposit when selling drinks in packaging covered by the deposit system,
- collecting empty packaging and packaging waste and returning the deposit (in the case of retail space above 200m 2 ),
- settling the costs of collecting packaging and packaging waste covered by the deposit system with the representing entity,
- recording the number of purchased, sold and returned packages covered by a deposit,
- informing consumers, among others meanings of markings, systems for returning, collecting and recycling deposited packaging.
We will provide you with solutions that facilitate waste collection and logistics and will take over the reporting obligation.
We have been providing waste logistics services for over 30 years and creating solutions that improve waste management in every company. We provide our clients with digital tools integrated with the BDO system that automate waste records. We also take over reporting obligations, eliminating the risk of errors and saving your time.
We provide sellers participating in the deposit system with:
- delivery of a selected bottle dispenser or organization of a bag system,
- packaging and packaging waste collection services covered by a deposit,
- an intuitive online platform facilitating waste collection management and reporting in the BDO system,
- comprehensive consulting, including: in the scope of fulfillment of the information obligation.
We are the exclusive distributor of Sielaff modular bottle dispensers in Poland. We offer delivery and installation of a specific bottle dispenser, local device service, inspections twice a year and an extended 5-year warranty.
Do you want to create or have you already created your own representing entity?
The Polish deposit system is organized around a representative entity that creates the deposit system, concludes contracts with producers and distributors and is responsible for the efficient functioning and implementation of the statutory obligations of its participants.
We will help you build, shape and operate a new or existing deposit system
We are a leader in the packaging recovery industry in Poland and have over 10 years of experience in comprehensive service of deposit systems in other countries. We combine international know-how with experience gained on the domestic market in waste management, waste logistics, recycling and closing the loop of raw materials. We have the support of experts from countries where the deposit system has been successfully operating for years (Germany, Croatia) and from countries where Interzero actively participates in the work on introducing the deposit system (Italy).
We offer entities representing the deposit system:
- building a deposit system from scratch tailored to the needs of participants,
- advice and consultation at every stage of creating and operating the deposit system,
- providing an operating system enabling ongoing monitoring of the number of packages in the deposit system and the funds from the deposit,
- keeping full records and taking over the reporting obligation related to the management of packaging covered by the deposit system,
- taking over the obligation to settle deposits between participants of the deposit system (clearing),
- organizing the collection of packaging and packaging waste covered by a deposit (bottle lockers, bag system),
- ensuring the logistics of the deposit system – organizing the collection of returned packaging and packaging waste from commercial units and logistics centers and their transport in a way that guarantees the safety and tightness of the system,
- preparation of packaging waste for processing (sorting, counting) and its management,
- processing waste and providing recyclate for producers participating in the deposit system.
Thanks to our services, you will ensure that producers participating in your deposit system achieve the legally required collection and recycling levels and avoid incurring costs related to paying a product fee.
Deposit system in Poland – frequently asked questions
In accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Act, the following packaging will be covered by the deposit in Poland:
- single-use plastic bottles for drinks with a capacity of up to 3 liters,
- reusable glass bottles for drinks with a capacity of up to 1.5 l,
- metal packaging for drinks with a capacity of up to 1 liter.
The maximum amount of the deposit is set in the Deposit Act at PLN 2.
The exact amount of the deposit for packaging covered by the deposit system will be specified in a regulation issued on the basis of the delegation contained in the Deposit Act.
If you run a retail or wholesale business that offers drinks in deposit-covered packaging, you are required to join a deposit-refund scheme at a minimum in terms of collecting a deposit. If the commercial area of this unit is over 200 m 2 , you must join the deposit system also in terms of the refund of the deposit and the collection of packaging and packaging waste covered by the deposit.
If you are a manufacturer (introducing) drinks in deposit-covered packaging, you are not legally obliged to join the deposit-refund system. However, you must take into account the fact that you will not be obliged to ensure the level of collection through the deposit system and you will have to calculate and pay the product fee yourself.
Each entity introducing drinks in packaging covered by a deposit is obliged to achieve the following levels of selective collection of packaging:
- single-use plastic bottles for drinks with a capacity of up to 3 liters:
- 77% in 2025,
- 81% in 2026,
- 84% in 2027,
- 87% in 2028,
- 90% 2 2029,
- reusable glass bottles for drinks with a capacity of up to 1.5 l:
- 77% in 2025,
- 81% in 2026,
- 84% in 2027,
- 87% in 2028,
- 90% 2 2029,
- metal packaging for drinks with a capacity of up to 1 liter:
- 77% in 2025,
- 81% in 2026,
- 84% in 2027,
- 87% in 2028,
- 90% 2 2029
Those introducing products in deposit-covered packaging who have joined the deposit-refund system and have not achieved the minimum collection levels are obliged to pay a product fee. The maximum product fee for packaging is PLN 25 per 1 kg. They pay this fee jointly and severally with the representing entity in a 50:50 ratio.
Introducers who have not joined the deposit system must independently calculate and pay the entire product fee due.
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