Deposit for beverage packaging for local earmarked funds. Evolution of regulations possible

• From October 1, a deposit-refund system for beverage packaging will be introduced in Poland.
• The current wording of the regulations does not cover the possibility of returning the deposit in a form other than a refund of money.
• Due to other legislative priorities, in 2025 the Ministry of Culture and Environment does not plan to change the regulations regarding the deposit system.

MP Klaudia Jachira proposed introducing into the deposit system the possibility for the consumer to dispose of the refund of the deposit to which he is entitled for charitable purposes.

Would the Ministry of Climate and Environment, in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Affairs, and perhaps also the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, be willing to develop a system under which persons entitled to a refund of the deposit would have the opportunity to donate it to non-governmental public benefit organisations and charities? - Jachira asked in her parliamentary question.

In response, Deputy Minister of Climate Anita Sowińska explains that, in accordance with the regulations, the term deposit should be understood as a specific amount of money collected at the time of sale of a product in single-use or reusable beverage packaging, which is a beverage, and refunded at the time of return of the packaging covered by the deposit system or packaging waste generated from the packaging covered by the deposit system, respectively.

The current wording of the regulations does not include the possibility of returning the deposit in a form other than a refund of money and there are no plans to change these regulations, however it is possible to transfer the deposit already received to charity.

- Anita Sowińska pointed out.

Klaudia Jachira also asked whether the Ministry of Climate, in cooperation with local governments, could develop a plan for local earmarked funds - financed from funds flowing from the refund of deposits - which could be directly transferred to local financial units to meet the needs of residents of communes and villages, e.g. after entering a dedicated password when using a waste collection device or submitting a simple declaration to a shop employee?

Anita Swoińska admitted that this is not currently planned, but the ministry does not rule out such a solution in the future if such a demand is made by the social side.

It should be noted, however, that any legal changes would have to be consulted with all potential stakeholders and it is difficult to predict at present what the outcome of these consultations would be.

- explained the deputy minister.

She added that this will not happen in the near future, because "due to other legislative priorities, the Ministry of Culture and Environment does not plan any changes to the regulations regarding the deposit system in 2025."