- The deposit-refund system will cover metal cans, including steel, with a capacity of up to 1 liter, and not just aluminum cans, as previously thought, - said Jacek Decora, State Secretary of the Ministry of Climate and Environment.
Regulations on the deposit-refund system are constantly changing. The last published version provided that plastic bottles with a capacity of up to 3 liters, reusable glass bottles with a capacity of up to 1.5 liters and aluminum cans with a capacity of up to 1 liter, metal cans, including steel cans, would be stored. , will also be included.
Ministry’s motives are hard to explain
This is in response to comments from the food industry and environmental activists who expressed surprise at the exclusion of certain types of cans from the system.
Jacek Wodzisławski, president of the Recal Foundation, noted that steel and aluminum beverage cans are in circulation in Poland. “They differ in construction material, but they have the same shape, and it is difficult for consumers to distinguish them. Therefore, we received with concern the news that the draft rules introducing a deposit and return system in the case of beverage cans in Poland only apply to aluminum cans,” he wrote in a statement.
It seems that the Ministry of the Environment has thought about this issue and, in response to a request from MPs, Poland 2050 has announced that it will include all canisters up to 1 liter in the system.
New packaging can be made from old cans
In his statement, Jacek Wodzisławski also indicated that cans collected in the deposit-refund system should continue to be used only for the production of new cans. “With this, aluminum sheet smelters will be able to guarantee their customers material that is actually recycled, minimizing the consumption of natural resources. The use of cans for other less demanding products in practice will lead to their irretrievable loss from the closed circuit,” he explained.
What will the deposit-refund system look like?
The deposit-refund system, which will be applied from 2025, will cover:
plastic container for drinks up to 3 liters
reusable glass containers for drinks with a capacity of up to 1.5 liters
metal and aluminum cans up to 1 liter.
Single-use glass bottles will not be covered by the system, as retailers report there is not enough space in stores to store that many packs. “Stores with an area of less than 200 square meters have expressed their willingness to voluntarily join the deposit-refund system, which will significantly increase the availability of packaging and packaging waste collection points for consumers. On the other hand, they pointed to a possible lack of storage space, which could become a certain barrier for them to join the system or lead to the need for costly investments,” the ministry explained.
The collection of single-use glass bottles will continue through existing municipal systems, as it has so far.
Source: Wprost
