What happens to an unclaimed deposit? Poles ask, the Ministry answers
Deposit system. What is it?
As we read on the government website, it is a mechanism under which consumers pay an additional fee, i.e. a deposit, when purchasing goods in packages covered by the system. This fee is refunded when you return the packaging or empty bottle to a collection point. It was launched in Poland in October 2025 and still arouses a lot of emotions.
We get our money back and the problem of “disposable” tickets disappears
It covers single-use plastic beverage packaging with a capacity of up to 3 liters, metal cans (up to 1 liter) and reusable glass bottles. Such packaging must have special markings indicating membership in the system.
How much is the deposit?
Pursuant to the Minister’s regulation, the deposit is 50 groszy for PET bottles and metal cans, and PLN 1 for glass bottles. And what is worth knowing, we do not need to have a receipt to return the packaging to a collection point.
What happens to the money we don’t collect?
Many people may think at this point that it will be donated to some noble cause. To help those in need or for charity. None of these things. By not collecting the deposit, we do not contribute to doing good, nor do we use money to finance any institutions. It’s simple. Unclaimed money is only a cash injection for the operator itself.
The uncollected deposit will go to the system operator and will be used to finance the system.
Pursuant to the Act, all this money from unclaimed deposits remains at the disposal of the system operator. These funds should therefore go towards the development of logistics and transport infrastructure, as well as educational campaigns aimed at consumers.
Such a system exists in many countries both in Europe and North America. It has, among others, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands and Germany. We have had it in Poland since October 2025. In January 2026, the transitional period that allowed the sale of drinks without labeling ended.
