The deposit system will be launched in Poland on October 1. We checked in Germany how it works in practice
The deposit system in Germany has been in operation since 2003. Retail outlets there are obliged to collect all returned disposable and reusable packaging and forward it for appropriate recycling.
In Poland, only large stores, with an area of over 200 square meters, will have to collect empty packaging and return a deposit. Smaller stores will charge a deposit, but joining the packaging collection system will be voluntary for them.
The mechanism is simple. When buying drinks in packages covered by the system – plastic, glass or metal – consumers will pay an additional deposit fee. This money will be returned after returning the empty packages to special collection points. In this way, the system is intended to motivate people to segregate and recycle, as well as reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
The German deposit system: A model to follow?In Germany, the deposit for single-use bottles is €0.25, or about PLN 1.15. For reusable bottles, the fee is lower and ranges from €0.08 to €0.25. Importantly, consumers can return the packaging to any store selling the type of drink, without having to show a receipt. After returning the bottles or cans to the machine, they receive a receipt that can be exchanged for cash at the checkout.
During our visit to Germany, we visited several stores to test the system. We returned various packages, from glass bottles to plastic bottles and even cans. In each case, the process went smoothly. The machines recognize the packages thanks to special markings and barcodes, and those that are not covered by the system are automatically rejected.
How much does a deposit cost in Germany?In Germany, reusable glass bottles are the cheapest – the deposit is 0.08 or 0.16 euros, which in złoty is around 35 and 70 groszy respectively. In the case of beverage crates, prices vary depending on their size. A standard crate for 20 beers costs 1.50 euros, and with bottles – 3.10 euros, or just over 13 zlotys.
In turn, single-use plastic bottles and cans have a higher deposit of €0.25, which provides an additional incentive to return them. As a result, most of the packaging ends up being recycled or reused – in the case of glass bottles.
Is Poland ready?The introduction of a deposit system in Poland is a step towards a more ecological future. If we can repeat Germany's success, we can expect a significant increase in recycling and a reduction in waste. And this is a benefit not only for the environment, but for all of us. After all, every bottle returned is not only a recovered deposit, but also a real contribution to protecting the planet.
Sources: "Fakt", zielonagospodarka.pl, bankier.pl
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