Additional fees. Millions added to the budget

Inflation data in Poland TVN24

Since 2018, shoppers have been paying extra for plastic bags. In 2024, the so-called recycling fee added nearly 180 million złoty to the national budget. Additionally, the levy on disposable food packaging, which was introduced last year, contributed over 156 million złoty to the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

The Ministry of Climate and Environment estimates that revenue from the recycling fee will remain consistent with previous years in 2025. Last year, this fee generated approximately PLN 178.7 million for the state budget. In the years 2021-2023, the amounts were around PLN 172.5 million, PLN 174.5 million, and nearly PLN 173 million, respectively.

The recycling fee for lightweight plastic shopping bags was implemented on January 1, 2018. Following its introduction, some retailers began to bypass the rules by providing plastic bags slightly thicker than 50 micrometers. These bags did not qualify as lightweight and thus were exempt from the fee. Consequently, the regulations were tightened, and as of September 1, 2019, the recycling fee also applied to bags that are at least 50 micrometers thick.

The use of „bags” is declining

The Ministry of Climate assessed that the fee motivates consumers to opt for alternative bags, such as reusable fabric options.

Data from the Ministry of Culture and Environment indicate that prior to the implementation of the fees, the annual consumption of plastic shopping bags (of all thicknesses) per person was estimated to be around 300 bags. After the introduction of the fee on plastic bags, the usage of lightweight bags subject to the fee decreased. In 2018, it was about 9 bags per person annually, and in the years 2019-2023, the figures were roughly: 3.7, 5.2, 5.3, 5.5, and 6.1 bags per resident per year.

The fee for plastic bags has resulted in a significant reduction in their usage among Poles now.

As per the regulations, retailers that provide plastic bags to customers must incorporate a recycling fee of 20 groszy per bag plus VAT into the cost of the bag. This fee can either be included in the overall price of the bag or added separately.

The fee applies to all plastic shopping bags, with the exception of tear-off bags (with a material thickness of less than 15 microns), which are necessary for hygiene purposes or offered as primary packaging for loose food items. The tear-off fee should be applied if the bag is not used for food packaging.

The recycling fee serves as revenue for the state budget and, according to regulations, is transferred by the store owner to a designated bank account established by the voivodeship marshal.

First year of SUP fee – for single-use plastic packaging

Starting January 1, 2024, fees will be imposed in retail and catering, as well as in vending machines, for single-use plastic containers and cups used for packaging food and beverages (referred to as the SUP fee – Single-use plastics).

The fees for plastic packaging are regulated at 20 groszy for beverage cups and 25 groszy for food containers.

SUP packaging and cutlery – single-use. Shutterstock

According to data from the Ministry of Culture and Environmental Protection (MiŚ) provided to PAP, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) is projected to receive approximately PLN 156.6 million from fees collected in stores for beverage cups and food containers in 2025. The majority of this amount is expected to come from the Mazowieckie Voivodeship (approximately PLN 40 million). The Ministry clarified that these figures pertain to the NFOŚiGW’s revenue for 2024.

Businesses are required to deposit the SUP fee collected from customers into the bank account maintained by the voivodeship marshal by March 15th of the year following the fee collection. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in fines ranging from PLN 500 to PLN 100,000.

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