Bail system operation - services for manufacturers, distributors and representative entities
By virtue of an amendment to the Act on the Management of Packaging and Packaging Waste and Certain Other Acts, a deposit system covering single- and reusable beverage packaging will be introduced in Poland from 2025. The legislation is aimed at producers of those introducing packaged beverages and distributors of pre-packaged drinks and impose a number of new legal obligations on them.
Are you a manufacturer or retailer and joining a bail bond scheme as a participant? Do you need support in implementing your new obligations under the Bail Act? Do you want to set up your own bail system?
Benefit from Interzero's expert knowledge. We offer expert advice to companies setting up and participating in the bail system: to manufacturers and distributors as well as to representative entities. We provide comprehensive service of bail systems among other things, in the collection and logistics of packaging and packaging waste and its management.
Are you a producer of beverages in packaging covered by the deposit system?
Did you know that:
- you are obliged to achieve a high statutory level of separate collection of packaging and packaging waste? You must collect 77% of them in 2025 and as much as 90% in 2029,
- you must keep detailed records of the packaging covered by the deposit system that you place on the market,
- are you obliged to put a special label on the packaging subject to deposit?
We will provide you with statutory obligations and intuitive reporting and record-keeping tools
We provide consultancy and advisory services to companies introducing drinks in deposit packaging. We also offer our clients a range of digital tools to simplify and accelerate their legal obligations under the Deposit Act.
With Interzero's services, you gain:
- expert advice (e.g. on labelling deposit packaging),
- efficient clearing of deposits between participants in the bail system,
- access to the Interzero Waste Platform, a digital tool for waste logistics management and BDO reporting,
- guarantee of access to the reccyclature in the quantity required by law and in accordance with your company's needs,
- seamless achieving the minimum legal levels of separate collection and recycling of waste.
Are you a retailer of beverages in containers covered by the deposit scheme?
From 2025 onwards, it is your responsibility to:
- to conclude a contract with at least one (and in the case of commercial space over 200m2 - with each) representative entity in the bail system,
- the collection of deposits for the sale of beverages in containers covered by the deposit system,
- collection of empty packaging and packaging waste and return of deposits (for retail space over 200m2),
- settling the costs of collecting packaging and packaging waste covered by the deposit system with a representative entity,
- recording the number of deposit packs purchased, sold and returned,
- informing consumers, among other things, of the meaning of labels, return, collection and recycling systems for deposit packaging.
We will provide you with solutions to facilitate waste collection and logistics and take over reporting obligations.
For more than 30 years, we have been providing waste logistics services and creating solutions to improve waste management in any business. We provide our clients with digital tools integrated with the BDO system to automate waste records. We also take over reporting responsibilities, eliminating the risk of errors and saving you time.
Vendors participating in the deposit scheme are provided with:
- delivery of the chosen bottle machine or organising a bagging system,
- collection services for packaging and packaging waste covered by the deposit,
- intuitive an online platform to facilitate the management of waste collections and reporting in the BDO system,
- Comprehensive advice, inter alia, on the implementation of the information obligation.
We are the exclusive distributor of Sielaff modular bottle machines in Poland. We offer delivery and installation of a specific bottle machine, local servicing of the equipment, inspections twice a year and an extended 5-year warranty.
Do you want to create or have already created your own representative entity?
The Polish bail system is organised around a representative entity that sets up the bail system, enters into agreements with producers and distributors and is responsible for the smooth functioning and implementation of the statutory obligations of its participants.
We can help you build, shape and operate a new or existing bail system
We are the leader of the packaging recovery industry in Poland and have more than 10 years' experience in the comprehensive operation of bail systems in other countries. We combine international know-how with experience gained in the domestic market in waste management, waste logistics, recycling and material closure. We have the support of experts from countries where a bail system has been successfully operating for years (Germany, Croatia) and from countries where Interzero is actively involved in the introduction of a bail system (Italy).
We offer bail system representation entities:
- building a bail system from scratch tailored to the needs of participants,
- advice and consultation at every stage of setting up and operating a bail system,
- provision of the operating system to keep track of the amount of packaging in the deposit system and the deposit funds,
- keeping of full records and take over the reporting obligations related to the management of packaging covered by the deposit system,
- assumption of responsibility for clearing deposits between participants in the bailment (clearing) system,
- organising the collection of packaging and packaging waste with a deposit (bottle machines, sack system),
- ensuring the logistics of the bail system - organising the collection of returned packaging and packaging waste from commercial units and logistics centres and transporting them in a way that guarantees the safety and tightness of the system,
- preparation of packaging waste for processing (sorting, conversion) and its management,
- treatment of waste and provision of recyclate for producers participating in the deposit system.
With our services, you will ensure that producers participating in your deposit scheme achieve the statutory collection and recycling levels required by law and avoid incurring the costs associated with paying the product fee.
Bail system in Poland - frequently asked questions
According to the provisions of the Deposit Act, the following packages will be deposited in Poland:
- single-use plastic beverage bottles up to 3l,
- reusable glass beverage bottles of up to 1.5 litres,
- metal beverage containers of up to 1 litre.
The maximum amount of the bail bond is set by the Bail Act at £2.
The exact amount of the deposit for packaging covered by the deposit system will be determined by a regulation issued under the delegation contained in the Deposit Act.
If you run a retail or wholesale unit that offers drinks in deposit packaging, you are required to join a minimum deposit scheme for the collection of deposits. If the retail area of that unit is over 200m2, you must also join the deposit system for the return of the deposit and the collection of packaging and packaging waste covered by the deposit.
If you are a producer (introducer) of beverages in deposit packaging, you are not legally obliged to join a deposit system. However, you have to take into account the fact that you will then not fulfil the obligation to ensure the collection level through the deposit system and will have to calculate and pay the product fee yourself.
Each party introducing beverages in pre-packaged containers is obliged to achieve the following levels of separate collection of packaging:
- single-use plastic beverage bottles up to 3l:
- 77% in 2025,
- 81% in 2026,
- 84% in 2027,
- 87% in 2028,
- 90% 2 2029,
- reusable glass beverage bottles of up to 1.5 litres:
- 77% in 2025,
- 81% in 2026,
- 84% in 2027,
- 87% in 2028,
- 90% 2 2029,
- metal beverage containers with a capacity of up to 1 litre:
- 77% in 2025,
- 81% in 2026,
- 84% in 2027,
- 87% in 2028,
- 90% 2 2029.
Introducers of packaging covered by a deposit, who have joined the deposit system and have not achieved the minimum collection levels, are obliged to pay a product fee. The maximum rate of the product fee for packaging is PLN 25 per 1 kg. This fee is paid jointly and severally with the representing entity on a 50:50 basis.
Introducers who have not joined the deposit scheme must calculate and pay the entire product fee due themselves.
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