“We can see that municipalities started noticing the need to engage in activities aimed at improving air quality. More than 500 municipalities have already signed cooperation agreements with the Voivodehsip Funds for Environmental Protection and Water Management. Thanks to that, many officials were trained in helping residents with filling in the application and verification of the data provided in the documents,” said Minister Henryk Kowalczyk.

“I am glad to say that the Clean Air programme is becoming more and more effective. We are opening up new distribution channels for the programme,” he added.

Minister Kowalczyk emphasised that nearly 80 000 applications for a total amount of 1.8 billion PLN were already submitted under the Clean Air programme. At the same time, the Minister reminded that the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management has prepared a number of programmes for municipal heating companies, including “Energia Plus” and “Ciepłownictwo Powiatowe.”

About waste management

Undoubtedly, the recently amended law on maintaining cleanliness in municipalities is a burden on residents and local governments.

“We have abolished regionalisation, which will contribute to the abolition of monopolies in the waste management system. Separate collection of waste at source and a number of facilitations will lead to lower prices for waste collection,” claimed Minister Kowalczyk.

The Minister of Environment also urged local governments to submit applications to the National Fund for modernisation and expansion of water and sewage systems in rural areas.

“Villages and small towns should match urban agglomerations with the level and comfort of living. We significantly contribution to this development. We offer actual financial resources. Now it is up to the municipalities to decide whether they want to get involved in the programmes offered by the Ministry of Environment,” said Minister of Environment Henryk Kowalczyk.