- In the assessment of the regulatory effects of the latest draft act on the deposit system, it is noted that currently 133 million people in Europe use the deposit system. It already operates in 12 countries, and work is underway to launch it in another 15.
- Most European systems cover single-use plastic packaging, metal cans and, in 8 countries, single-use glass bottles.
– The current draft act on the deposit system will not improve return rates for returnable glass packaging. Today's systems for their turnover and selective collection reach a level of up to 98% and are an example of how returnable packaging collection systems should function. So far, nothing has been presented that would justify the introduction of returnable glass bottles into the regulations contained in the Act on the deposit system – emphasizes Dariusz Lizak, President of the National Chamber of Commerce "Bottling Industry".
Meeting the provisions of the Act
The Act aims to ensure appropriate levels of recycling of packaging waste. It is also intended to enable the creation of a system that will be universal and equal for both end users and entities placing packaged products on the market. The currently developed system for the distribution and collection of reusable glass packaging already allows for the level of selective collection to be approximately 95% to 98%, without the intermediary of deposit system operators. These are the levels planned to be achieved in 2029. The vast majority of the missing few percent is broken raw material produced in the production process, which in a controlled manner goes to glassworks, not public spaces, littering the environment. The deposit system will not increase these indicators because this area of selective waste collection is almost fully developed.
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Milk packaging excluded from the deposit system 
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The deposit system has proven successful in this country. Will we succeed too?
– Entities that ensure an almost 100% level of selective collection of reusable glass packaging should not suffer any negative consequences related to their inclusion in the deposit system, including, above all, unnecessary additional costs. Imposing on them obligations related to the implementation and maintenance of the deposit system does not seem to be in line with the purpose of the act, emphasizes Dariusz Lizak. The costs generated by the deposit system will be covered by consumers.
The deposit system in Poland is to be introduced from January 1, 2025. The current draft act amending the Act on packaging and packaging waste management, proposed by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, is still at the design stage.
