As of 1 October 2025, the fresh bailout strategy will apply in Poland. With its introduction, large commercial networks – specified as Ladybug or Lidl – will start adding extra fees to the cash register.
This is about bailing out selected packages, which – although it will be an additional cost to customers – will be able to be full recovered.
Shop bail: how much will we pay?
The fee depends on the kind of packaging. The bail strategy shall include:
plastic disposable bottles up to 3 litres – 50 cents deposit,
Multi-use glass bottles up to 1.5 litres – 1 PLN,
metal cans up to 1 litre - 50 cents.
This means that erstwhile buying, for example, 3 drinks in plastic bottles, we will pay an additional 1.50 PLN. 4 glass bottles will mean 4 PLN surcharge. The fresh fee will automatically appear on the receipt and will apply to each covered packaging system. The refund will only be possible if the packages are returned – preferably for peculiar vending machines that will stand in stores.
What makes you think that? Objective: recycling and environmental protection
The bailout strategy is primarily intended to encourage Poles to return utilized packaging – both from plastics, glass and metal. The thought is not fresh – akin solutions already be in many European countries, including Germany and Lithuania. In Poland, the strategy was originally to start on 1 January 2025, but legislative changes delayed its start by 9 months.
The fresh regulations require large shops – with an area of more than 200 m2 – to accept returns of packaging and equipment of the facilities to peculiar machinery. That's where customers will be able to give back their packaging and get their money back.
Ladybug and Lidl are ready. The machines work.
The Ladybug and Lidl have been preparing for months to come. Lidl's network launched recyclable vending machines tests back in 2022, and at the end of 2023 it reported that customers had received this way purchase vouchers with a full value of PLN 100 thousand.
In turn Ladybug began the introduction of alleged recyclomats in 2023. These machines take plastic bottles and cans, and in return they issue vouchers of value 5 cents apiece. After 1 October 2025, the strategy will be unified – alternatively of vouchers, the stores will return the full amount of the deposit collected.
What do customers say? Poles definitely for
According to a survey conducted by the Austrian brand Waterdrop, Poles enthusiastically approach the planned bail system. As many as 88.3 percent of respondents supported its implementation. The survey concluded that giving bottles and cans in exchange for returning money was a good way to fight pollution.
Who won't pay? crucial information for customers
The fresh fee applies only to products in packages covered by the deposit scheme. Buying goods in non-bonded packages – e.g. cartons, bottles above 3 litres or bulk packages without individual marking – customers will not gotta pay additional. However, erstwhile buying popular soda drinks, mineral water or beer – adding bail will become a rule.
