Waste - National Responses (Poland)

SOER 2010 Common environmental theme (Deprecated)

Topics: Resource efficiency and waste

This page was archived on 21 Mar 2015 with reason: A new version has been published

SOER Common environmental theme from Poland

Topic: Waste

Published: 26 Nov 2010 Modified: 11 May 2020

Poland’s responses to waste management requirements are subject in the first place to the National Waste Management Plan 2010, which is in conformity with National Environmental Policy. The purpose of creating a national waste management plan is to put in place a system of waste management compliant with the requirements of sustainable development, in which the principles of waste management, in particular the treatment of waste according to the waste management hierarchy, are fully applied. This involves, first of all, avoiding and minimising the quantities of waste generated, as well as limiting their hazardous component, utilising waste as materials and energy sources, and finally, neutralisation for waste that cannot be recovered in any way.

The main piece of legislation relating to waste management is the 27 April 2001 Act on Waste (Journal of Laws 2007 No. 39, item 251, with amendments). The Act lays down the rules for dealing with waste in such a way as to protect human health and life and the environment, according to the principles of sustainable development, and in particular the rules for avoiding the generation of waste, or limiting the quantity of waste generated and its negative impact on the environment, as well as the recovery or neutralisation of waste.

Act	Main content
Act of 27 April 2001 –Environmental Protection Law (J. of L. 2008 No. 25, item 150, with later amendments)	Introduction of general environmental principles, which are also relevant for waste management, such as principle of prevention, precautionary principle, environmental fees, integrated permissions, etc.
Act of 27 April 2001 on waste (J. of L. 2007 No. 39, item 251, with later amendment	The Act on waste is the main piece of waste legislation. It is structured in 10 chapters: General regulations General waste management rules Waste management plans Tasks of local and regional self-government in municipal waste management. Obligations of waste holders Special rules of managing certain types of waste Incineration of waste Landfilling Financial penalties Final regulations
Act of 27 July 2001 on the introduction of the act on the environmental protection law, the Act on waste and the Act amending certain Acts (J. of L. 2001, No. 100, item 1085, with later amendments	Deadlines for enacting abovementioned Acts. Transitional regulations and regulations related to ecological reviews.