Poland’s environment ministry proposes new waste management rules

The proposal, published on the Government Legislation Centre’s website on Friday, is said to be geared towards streamlining the country’s municipal waste management systems, boosting the control of local governing bodies over the process and improving the national recycling rate in Poland, Poland’s PAP news agency reported, citing the ministry.

One of the key changes in the legislation is the separation of tenders for the collection and processing of waste, which is expected to help counter the problem of fly-tipping in illegal landfills and forests.

Another step geared towards that effect is that all Polish households would be listed in local waste management records.

The changes come after a series of garbage dump fires in various locations in Poland in May triggered fears of an environmental hazard.

Another amendment put forward in the draft legislation is an increase from a twofold to a fourfold higher fee for Polish households for disposing unsorted trash compared to sorted garbage.

Under the proposal, Polish households would be charged PLN 32 (EUR 7.45, USD 8.69) a month for the disposal of unsorted trash and PLN 8 for waste readied for recycling, Poland’s PAP news agency reported.

The environment ministry said it wanted the amended law to enter into force on January 1, 2019, PAP said.

(aba)

Source: PAP