In the first year of operation of the bottle and can recycling system in Poland, Dino Polska has installed recycling machines to collect plastic bottles and aluminum cans in more than 2,600 towns and communities around Poland. These machines located next to Dino stores operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are nearly 3,300 recycling machines installed next to Dino stores in more than 2,600 towns and communities across Poland. This is the largest network of recycling machines outside of large cities and one of the largest networks in the country. From the outset Dino has opted for recycling machine maintenance and packaging returns to be easy for employees and customers alike.
“Customers bring lots of packaging to our stores. Since we have automated machinery, we do not have to take receipt of every return separately, we have less work related to the deposit system and an additional remuneration that acts as an incentive to service the recycling machines”, says Dagmara Bąk, a cash and sales clerk at a Dino store in Jarocin.
Dino’s deposit refund vouchers are valid for 5 years and can be exchanged in any and every store in its network. Generally speaking, recycling machines are located outside stores and operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Customers can return bottles and cans whenever it is convenient for them – in the evening, during the night or on Sunday.
In 2026 Dino will allocate roughly PLN 300 million to develop its recycling machines. Recently, the company contracted the delivery of another 500 machines.
“The most important attributes for us are the reliability of the recycling machines, customer accessibility and ease of service for employees. Recycling machines are a relatively new solution in Poland; that is why we are observing their operation and user experience. In subsequent stages of developing our network when we will be installing several hundred new machines every year, we would like for these solutions to be aligned to the needs of our customers and employees to the maximum extent possible”, says Marcin Jędraszak, Management Board Member of Dino Polska.
According to the data published by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, there are 65.5 thousand return sites in operation in Poland with 23.5 thousand of them outfitted with automatic deposit recycling machines. That means that every seventh recycling machine in Poland stands on the grounds of a Dino store.
Their location is of particular significance. Dino’s recycling machines operate in more than 2,600 towns and communities. Dino is situated in venues where there is not a lot of infrastructure of this type, and in many towns and communities Dino’s recycling machine is the only such equipment in the vicinity. This makes it possible for residents to take advantage of the deposit system close to their homes without having to look for such points in locations located farther away.
The first stage of installing recycling machines in the Dino network has been completed. Just like PV panels, they have become a standard part of how stores are outfitted. More recycling machines will appear as Dino continues to grow with several hundred new machines being added every year.