Minister Kowalczyk pointed out that the Act on Maintaining Cleanliness and Order in Municipalities will improve the functioning of waste management system and the quality of raw materials, in particular thanks to regulations promoting selective waste collection.

“The provisions of this act supplement the changes introduced in 2018, geared towards solving the problem of illegal practices in waste management, such as dumping waste in places other than landfills, as well as reducing the number of fires,” he said.

“The aim of the amendment is also to encourage residents to selectively collect waste. People who segregate their waste are going to pay at least 50% less for waste collection than those who avoid that responsibility,” he pointed out.

The minister also added that the amendment also envisions lower fees for residents with composters, who manage some of their bio-waste.

In the opinion of Minister Kowalczyk, the amendment to the Act on Maintaining Cleanliness and Order in Municipalities is also the end of unjustified waste collection fee raises for residents.

“We broke up the monopoly of municipal waste treatment companies, which raised their fees for no apparent reason,” he said.

Extended responsibility of producers

The main topic of this year’s POL-ECO SYSTEM trade show was the extended responsibility of producers, as well as the deposit system and their impact on the state of the environment.

Sławomir Mazurek, Vice-Minister of Environment, reminded the audience that the principle of extended responsibility of producers has been in force since 2002. However, it is necessary to redefine the roles of the different actors in the system.

“The new system should stimulate manufacturers to design their products in a way conforming with the hierarchy of waste management – to first and foremost avoid producing excessive waste and increase their recycling potential,” said the Vice-Minister.

“Entities who introduce their products to the market will be required to cover the costs of selective collection, transport and treatment of waste at the level required to reach EU levels,” he added.

New principles of waste management – opportunities and risks

During the POL-ECO SYSTEM trade show, the attendees also debated the new waste management principles.

According to the Minister of Environment Henryk Kowalczyk, the transition towards circular economy, in which waste should be treated as a secondary raw material and used for production, is a key challenge we are facing today.

“The concept of circular economy is inextricably linked with innovation, which, among other things, should contribute to extending the time of using products or replacing products with substitutes, including intangible ones,” he noted.

In addition, Vice-Minister Mazurek reminded that the Single Use Plastics Directive sets an ambitious goal that compels not only the industry, but also consumers, to change their ways and to reduce environmental pollution with disposable plastic products.

“In view of the ambitious 2020 objectives concerning the management of municipal waste, one of the key actions in this regard will be developing a recycling market,” he added.

Youth Climate Congress

During the POL-ECO SYSTEM trade show, Minister of Environment Henryk Kowalczyk also took part in the 2019 Youth Climate Congress, organised by the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Poznań.

“I am pleased to see that I am witnessing the formation of a new generation of committed people who want to fight for a better future for our planet,” he said.

Minister of Environment Henryk Kowalczyk also presented awards to the winners of Pokaż klasę-bądź EKOlogiczny competition for youth.