Ministry Announces Major Changes to Poland’s Deposit System and Voucher Validity

The Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment is preparing a major legislative amendment to extend and standardize deposit voucher validity while including single-use glass bottles in the system.

Changes to Deposit System and Voucher Validity

End of expiring money? Major changes are underway in the deposit system as the ministry has just announced a new law. A bad deal for stores, but great news for our wallets, the validity of vouchers for returned cans and bottles is set to be clearly extended and standardized across Poland, while another type of packaging enters the system.

The Ministry of Climate and Environment announced a major amendment to regulations and is preparing crucial decisions, with Deputy Climate Minister Anita Sowińska stating on Thursday that the validity of vouchers received in stores for returned bottles and deposit cans will be extended and standardized.

Single-Use Glass Bottles to Enter the System

Sowińska noted that the Ministry of Climate and Environment is currently planning an amendment to the Act on Packaging and Packaging Waste Management, which will include single-use glass bottles in the deposit system. She emphasized that the changes will enter into force with an appropriate vacatio legis because this will be a major systemic and logistical change.

Under current regulations, the deposit system in Poland has operated since October 1, 2025, adding a 50-grosz deposit to plastic bottles up to 3 liters and metal cans up to 1 liter. Furthermore, reusable glass bottles up to 1.5 liters with a 1-zloty deposit have been included since 2026, though beverage producers can still run independent collection systems.

Analytical Work and Cash Redemptions

Addressing voucher duration, the ministry is examining the timeframe during which vouchers can be redeemed and aims to extend and standardize this period, with analytical work expected to conclude in September. Climate and Environment Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska stated on platform X that the resort will seek to statutorily extend the validity period so vouchers last significantly longer than 30 days.

Currently, deposit voucher validity is set by stores and deposit system operators at a minimum of 30 days, and Sowińska pointed out that customers have the right to either redeem the voucher during shopping or exchange it for cash, with stores unable to refuse payment.