# Act on packaging management (deposit return system)

Act of 13 June 2013 on the management of packaging and packaging waste (ustawa o gospodarce opakowaniami i odpadami opakowaniowymi)

- Status: Amendments pending
- Legal order: Poland
- Legal area: Products and producer responsibility
- Dz.U. 2026 poz. 619 (consolidated text)
- Business profile: Semi-fabrication, Recycling, Product manufacturers

## In brief

Obligations of persons placing packaged products on the market (recycling, product fee) and a deposit return system covering, inter alia, metal cans up to 1 l – relevant for producers of aluminium strip and sheet and for recyclers.

## Key obligations

- Person placing packaged products on the market: recycling of packaging waste; for aluminium a rate of 60% in 2030 (Art. 17(1), Annex 1, item 3)
- Person placing beverages on the market: separate collection of metal cans up to 1 l in the deposit return system – 77% in 2025–2028, 90% from 2029 (Art. 21a(1), Annex 1a)
- Retail units: participation in the deposit return system – charging the deposit and, in shops > 200 m², also refunding the deposit and collecting packaging (Art. 44(1) and (2))
- Product fee where the rates are not achieved; settlement at the end of the year (Art. 34(1) and (2))
- Reusable glass bottles: joining the system of a representative entity voluntary until 31.12.2028 (Art. 40h(2a))

## Competent authority

Minister responsible for climate (permits for representative entities), Marshal of the Voivodeship (BDO register, product fee – Art. 37), Regional Inspector for Environmental Protection (penalties – Art. 58(1)), Regional Inspectorate of Trade Inspection (WIIH) (Art. 58(2))

## Penalties

Fines of PLN 10,000 to 1,000,000 depending on the infringement (Arts 56–57); imposed by the Regional Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (WIOŚ) or the WIIH (Art. 58).

## Entry into force

01.01.2014

## Application

in force; deposit return system from 2025-10-01

## Key dates

- 01.10.2025: launch of the deposit return system (Art. 8(15ba) of the Act; Art. 10 of the Act of 21.11.2024, Dz.U. 2024 poz. 1911)
- 18.02.2026: entry into force of the Act of 9.01.2026 (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 174) – reusable glass bottles outside the system
- 08.05.2026: publication of the consolidated text (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 619)
- 12.08.2026: application of Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) – precedence of directly applicable provisions
- 01.01.2029: separate collection rate in the deposit return system 90%

## Pending changes

Draft Act on packaging and packaging waste (UC100, Ministry of Climate and Environment) – serves the application of Regulation (EU) 2025/40; after interministerial agreement, consultation and the European Affairs Committee (RCL, last modified 28.09.2026).

## Related acts

- [Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)](https://igmnir.org/dane/prawo/en/eu-ppwr/)

## Official sources

- [Text of the act](https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20130000888)
- [Consolidated text](https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20260000619)
- [ISAP – Act of 21.11.2024 (Dz.U. 2024 poz. 1911) – deposit return system deadline](https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20240001911)
- [ISAP – Act of 9.01.2026 (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 174)](https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20260000174)
- [RCL – draft Act on packaging and packaging waste (UC100)](https://legislacja.gov.pl/projekt/12401003)

---

Register as of: 22.10.2026. The official text of the act prevails. IGMNiR. On the website: https://igmnir.org/en/law/#akt-pl-opakowania