Sławomir Mentzen declared that “the deposit system is the work of Morawiecki’s government, supported by almost the entire PiS parliamentary group.” “You are once again diverting attention away from Tusk and directing the attack at the Law and Justice (PiS) party, which introduced the law in a DIFFERENT form,” replied MP Sebastian Kaleta. Meanwhile, MEP Jacek Ozdoba reminded that “it was Civic Platform that amended the law, in practice introducing the obligation to join the system.”
Deposit-refund system. Mentzen: “A creation of Morawiecki’s government”
Since October 1 this year, the deposit system has been in force in Poland. A refundable deposit will be added to beverages sold in plastic bottles, metal cans, and – from 2026 – in reusable glass bottles. The deposit will amount to 50 groszy for plastic bottles and cans, and 1 złoty for reusable glass bottles. This amount will be listed separately on the receipt, and packaging covered by the system will be marked with a special label.
The final rules of the deposit system were voted on by coalition MPs on December 13, 2024. Nevertheless, Sławomir Mentzen from Confederation posted on X, pointing out that “the deposit system is the work of Morawiecki’s government, supported by almost the entire PiS parliamentary group – only Confederation voted against it.”
PiS MP Sebastian Kaleta responded by reminding him that “the shape of the system and its key features, such as the actual obligation to join, which are now being criticized, are the work of Tusk’s government and the amended law of 2024, which PiS DID NOT SUPPORT.”
“You are once again diverting attention away from Tusk and directing the attack at PiS, which introduced the law in a DIFFERENT form. Cui bono?” added the PiS politician.
“It’s worth sticking to the facts”
PiS MEP Jacek Ozdoba, in turn, stressed that when it comes to the deposit system, “it’s worth sticking to the facts and setting political emotions aside.”
“The current deposit system law was prepared and passed by Civic Platform and the New Left, together with Polska 2050 Party, not by Law and Justice. They do not hide it,” he noted.
He then reminded of several key points:
- “It was Civic Platform that amended the law, in practice introducing the obligation to join the system – by raising the product fee by over 300% for companies that do not join,”
- “Meanwhile, local deposit systems already exist in stores today. The point was to popularize them, not distort the whole idea. They distorted it,”
- “It cannot be said that the current shape is the result of arrangements from two years ago. The system was changed, deadlines were altered, and high penalties for non-participation were introduced. Many detailed changes were added as well.”
In the MEP’s view, “PiS had nothing to do with decisions concerning system operators or issuing regulations – none of this happened under PiS.”
The current government set the deposit rates. Moreover, Civic Platform loosened the permit system for waste collection. Law and Justice had fought against environmental crime (with the amendment of the penal code, the SENT system, and a special department in the ministry), while the changes made by Civic Platform weakened this system. This entire dispute shows one thing: anything can be broken. And one more point: the vote on the law by Civic Platform, the New Left, and Polska 2050 Party (vote below). PiS did not support it – he stated.
Ozdoba also added that “the deposit system in its current form is the result of decisions by Civic Platform, the New Left, and Polska 2050 Party.”
“This is not voluntarism and healthy popularization of existing solutions, but compulsion, chaos, and a distortion of the idea. Perhaps instead of engaging in political brawls, it would be better to work in the ministry and in the committees?” he concluded.