Deposit system for 1.5 years. The organization draws attention to an important problem
Everything indicates that at the beginning of 2025 the deposit-refund system will come into force in Poland. It will include, for example, bottles for water, juice, nectar and milk. It is the issue of milk packaging that raises doubts of the Polish Chamber of Commerce.
A week ago, the government adopted an amendment to the Act on the management of packaging and packaging waste. It assumes the introduction from 1 January 2025 of a deposit-refund system for disposable plastic bottles up to 3 liters, reusable glass bottles up to 1.5 liters and metal cans with a capacity of up to 1 liter. The introduction of this system is a response to the EU Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. The draft amendment must be submitted for a three-month notification. However, this does not block the possibility of starting the proceedings in the Sejm.
A deposit-refund system without milk packaging? The organization appeals
The deposit system will cover, for example, bottles for water, juice, nectar and milk. The issue of milk packaging raises doubts of the Polish Chamber of Commerce. – The deposit-refund system should not include milk packaging. Collection of this waste would pose a health risk to store staff and customers. The Sejm should take this into account,” the Polish Chamber of Commerce wrote on Twitter.
The head of the Polish Chamber of Commerce, Maciej Ptaszyński, points out in an interview with portalspozywczy.pl that storing dairy product packaging in stores is particularly dangerous in the summer. “Summer is upon us and the temperature is getting warmer. Storing dairy packaging in the store carries serious risks, because these products contain live cultures of bacteria. We do not want this to cause a threat to store staff, customers and local residents – emphasizes the president of the Polish Chamber of Commerce.
“The deposit-refund system should be implemented gradually”
Let us remind you that the bill assumes that empty packaging can be returned to the store to recover the previously paid deposit. Large stores with an area of more than 200 square meters will have to collect empty packaging for this purpose. Other retail outlets (with a smaller area) will be able to join the system and collect the packaging covered by the deposit on a voluntary basis.
– The deposit-refund system should be implemented gradually, especially when it comes to small shops, because these types of shops have less capacity to store the collected packaging of plastic bottles and metal cans – explains Maciej Ptaszyński.
The amount of the deposit will be specified in the regulation. To pick it up in the store, you will not need to show a receipt confirming its previous payment.
