A revolution in the deposit system? Instead of a bottle, you throw in a whole bag of them at once
One of the most common problems with the deposit system reported by consumers is the slow operation of the machines – bottles have to be inserted one by one while waiting for scanning. It takes a long time and causes queues. However, this will soon change. It will be possible to throw an entire bag of bottles into the new recycling machines at one time. Such solutions have been operating for years, for example in Norway.
The deposit system in Poland is gaining momentum, but customers still see many shortcomings in it. One of them is debt the time it takes for the return process. Bottles and cans can only be put into the machines one at a time. When the consumer has a larger number of packages, the service takes longer, and the machine often goes to the machine a queue is forming.
Significant convenience for consumers
However, new devices are entering Poland that simplify and they speed up the entire process. You can throw it straight into these recycling machines a whole bag of bottles and cans. The device will sort them itself and calculate how much deposit is due to the consumer. Such a recycling machine can accept up to up to one hundred pieces of deposit packaging.
The most irritating thing about the deposit system are the bottle return machines.
That is, something that the store chooses.
It should look like in this video, not a game of throwing bottle after bottle and can after can. pic.twitter.com/gySqMsBCjK
— rzep (@rzep8) April 14, 2026
Such machines are used in stores, among others. in Norway, Germany and Austria. Now they are entering our market. According to Tomra, their manufacturer, the first recyclers they already operate in Poland, and more are being installed.
– We see great interest in machines that enable the insertion of entire bags of packaging. Such devices already exist in Poland, and more will appear because retailers see that it drives traffic and attracts customers from the area – said Agnieszka Pokładek, head of sales at Tomra Collection Polska, in an interview with the News Handlowe portal.
An increase in the number of returns by up to over 40%.
According to the experience of branches in other countries, after implementing such recyclers, stores accept them by over 40 percent more packaging than standard machines, while the number of consumer visits is increasing by 30 percent on an annual basis. According to Agnieszka, Pokładek for retailers is an investment that will quickly pay off and can increase traffic in stores.
– Although manual collection works great in a small store at the beginning, switching to automatic collection becomes a natural step over time. In deposit systems that have been operating for many years, up to 90 percent the entire mass of packaging passes through the machines. This is a direction that consumers also expect. We want to return the packaging quickly, easily and hassle-free, collect the deposit, do shopping and not involve a store employee – said Agnieszka Pokładek in an interview with WH.
Deposit system: who has to collect the packaging?
Let us remind you that in accordance with the applicable rules, each store with an area above 200 meters square meters is obliged to accept marked packaging covered by a deposit – regardless of whether it sells drinks of a given brand. Smaller facilities can join the system voluntarily.
Stores collect packaging using slot machines or in form manual intake packaging by staff. You do not need a receipt to receive a refund.
According to data from the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Poles paid more than 520 million bottles and cans.
