POHiD appeals to postpone the introduction of the deposit system in Poland until 1 January 2026. The threats associated with the introduction of the deposit system on 1 January 2025 include the inability to prepare many key issues, which means the risk of chaos and confusion among customers. In addition, stores are threatened with high fines of up to PLN 500,000. The current shape of the regulations provides for unfair and disproportionate requirements and penalties for trade.
The retail sector significantly limits the impact of inflation on product prices with very low margins. However, the current project means high investments in a very short time and potential penalties for stores, which will have a negative impact on the sector.
Trade should provide collection points created for those introducing the beverages, and the deposit system should be created by those introducing the beverages and financed by them. In the meantime, the project assumes a transition period for those introducing the beverages and the possibility of entering
in the deposit-refund system at any time next year, as well as disproportionately low penalties compared to those provided for shops.
Every store with an area of more than 200 m2 must be ready to collect a deposit for any product with a special logo. Failure to collect it in a store offering deposit packaging may result in a fine from PLN 10,000 to PLN 500,000.
Obligations for stores
Collection of deposit packaging through machines or other solutions
An agreement with each operator who reports under penalty of PLN 10,000 – 50,000
Information in each store on how to return empty packaging and refund the deposit collected, under penalty of a fine from PLN 500 to PLN 20,000.
Any store not ready for the deposit system as of January 1, 2025 may be fined PLN 40,000. This does not apply to those introducing the system, who will avoid the fine if the operator with whom they sign the contract is able to ensure the required level of collection.
Only some manufacturers plan to implement deposit packaging in the first half of 2025, which means that customers will be irritated to walk away from a bottle machine that will not accept most bottles. Customers' frustrations will be transferred to store staff.
The scale of the chaos is evidenced by the fact that the logo that is to be placed on products that will be in the deposit system is also to be changed. The Ministry of Climate and Environment has already announced this change, and two versions of the logo are to be in force temporarily. After the final change of marking, stores will have to destroy packaging with the old version of the logo, which means high costs and losses for the environment.
In addition, the trade is calling for a transitional period for the sale of products without a deposit in order to avoid a costly and harmful impact on the environment through the destruction of packaging – we read in the POHiD statement.