Economic effects of introducing a deposit-return system for packaging in Poland

Abstract

The introduction of a deposit-return system for certain packaging in Poland, scheduled for 2025 will be a significant change to the system of waste management instruments. The aim of the article is to identify and analyze the economic effects of the introducing such a system, with particular emphasis on plastic beverage bottles. Analysis of the newly introduced regulations, as well as projections based on data on packaging placed on the market and its recycling allowed us to estimate the scale of these effects, in quantitative and monetary terms. We concluded that the introduction of a deposit system in Poland would contribute to achieving the objectives set out in the Single Use Plastic directive; a goal that is unlikely to be met with the current system. This will be done at a lower cost than if the system remained in its current form.