The nationwide deposit system was launched on October 1, 2025. However, the first months were a transitional period - full operation of the system began on January 1, 2026, after the end of the transitional period.
During the press conference, Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska said that approximately 5 billion packages were collected as part of the deposit. The collection rate was approximately 60%. - it is about comparing the number of packages placed on the market with the number of packages collected in the same period.
The system was clearly accelerating over the following months. According to data presented by the ministry in spring, the monthly number of returned packages was approximately 480 million, while at the end of the first year it reached approximately 900 million units per month.
Infrastructure was developing in parallel. There are currently approximately 65.5 thousand of them operating throughout Poland. collection points, including over 23.5 thousand equipped with deposit machines. For comparison, in May, when the number of packages collected exceeded one billion, the ministry reported 57,000. return points, including 12.5 thousand equipped with automatic machines. In August there were already over 60,000. points and 17.5 thousand slot machines. This means that within a few months the network of points has expanded significantly.
Paulina Hennig-Kloska assessed that after the first year the system had passed the most difficult organizational stage.
It can be said that the initial phase of developing the deposit system is behind us. First of all, the deposit system works and its introduction made sense, said the minister during the conference.
She added that the system has - in the ministry's assessment - both ecological and economic dimensions. She also drew attention to the experiences of other countries. She said that in some countries, deposit systems needed two or three years to develop into the target model.
The Ministry of Climate and Environment is preparing further changes to the regulations. One of the most important announcements is the extension of the system to single-use glass packaging, including popular small alcohol bottles known as "monkeys".
Deputy Minister of Climate Anita Sowińska announced that the ministry would soon present a proposal regarding the capacity of packaging that would be covered by the new rules. In the case of single-use glass, the planned vacatio legis is approximately two years.
This means that a possible extension of the system would not take place immediately after the adoption of the new regulations. Already in May, Sowińska said on RMF FM that the inclusion of "monkeys" and other glass packaging may take up to two years.
When it comes to the deposit system, I feel like I delivered, but that doesn't mean there aren't things that can be improved. We have meetings with operators to repair the system. We carry out inspections of large stores, we want these inspections to contribute to the improvement of the system - said Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment Anita Sowińska from the Left in an afternoon conversation on RMF FM.
She emphasized that it may take up to two years to include "monkeys" and glass packaging in the deposit system.
At the same time, the ministry announces further improvements in the functioning of the system. One of the problems reported by consumers are queues at vending machines, their overflow and problems with refunding the deposit. The Ministry previously informed that reports regarding such situations are analyzed together with the system operators.
The planned changes will also concern the organization of the system and the reduction of some operational costs on the trade side.
