
- The new solutions, which will come into force on January 1, 2025, are intended to increase the level of selective collection and recycling of raw materials.
- The changes are also the result of the implementation of the EU SUP directive on reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment.
- One solution is a deposit system for plastic bottles.
- From January 1, 2025, new rules for the segregation of construction and demolition waste will also come into force.
- From the new year, new obligations will also be imposed on municipalities regarding the collection of textiles.
So let's start with the changes that will come into force as soon as possible, from January 1, 2025. Although selective collection of packaging has been in force in Poland for several years, and we segregate metal and plastics, including plastic bottles, in our homes and apartments, it turns out that the effects these activities are insufficient. Therefore, next year will bring a real revolution! The first change is the introduction of a deposit system, known for example from our western neighbors. It will involve taking plastic bottles up to 3 liters, glass bottles up to 1.5 liters and metal cans up to 1 liter to special deposit machines. Importantly, milk packaging will be excluded from this system for sanitary reasons.
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Where will deposit machines be available?
Empty packaging mentioned earlier and which is subject to this form of collection will be able to be returned in large stores with an area of over 200 square meters, because such retail establishments will be obliged to have vending machines. Other stores will be able to conduct such collections voluntarily. However, attention is already being drawn to the additional high costs for smaller stores if they wanted to participate in the deposit system. If not, there is unfortunately a chance that they will lose customers who will want to get their deposit back for packaging and will choose larger stores.
The Act on the deposit system cannot distort competition on the market. We need to take care of small and medium-sized stores. Show them solutions, suggest possibilities, they cannot be left to themselves. Standards should be created for the operation of all stores in the system, not just selected ones. In addition, 15 thousand bottle collection machines, which are estimated to appear in the largest chain stores, will not be able to absorb all the packaging returned by Poles – said Andrzej Gantner, vice-president of the management board and general director of the Polish Federation of Food Producers of the Employers' Union, in an interview with the food portal.
Deposit system – what about the money?
How does the deposit system work? First of all, the deposit fee will be added to the price of a given product. If we want to get the deposit back, we will have to go to any vending machine and return the bottles. You will not need to show your receipt. The amount of the deposit is to be specified in the regulation. If we do not return the packaging, the deposit is forfeited and will actually be used to finance the deposit system.
The deposit system applies in 16 EU countries. Pursuant to the EU SUP directive, it will be introduced in subsequent years, as the current experience of the participating countries shows that within 2-3 years of its introduction, the level of plastic packaging collection has increased to 90%.
New rules for segregating construction and demolition waste
From January 1, 2025, new rules for the segregation of construction and demolition waste will also apply, but they will apply to developers and renovation companies. They will have to segregate waste generated during investments. They will be able to do it themselves or outsource it to external companies. Waste will be collected divided into six fractions:
- wood,
- metals,
- glass,
- plastics,
- gypsum,
- mineral waste and ceramic materials and stones.
For private individuals, the regulations will not change. If we are going to carry out the renovation on our own, then, as before, we should order a container for construction waste from the commune or a private company, because throwing it into a regular container is prohibited and may result in a fine.
What other changes in waste segregation? Time for textiles!
From the beginning of next year, in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 2018/81, new regulations on the collection and recycling of used textiles will also apply. According to data from the European Commission, every year an average EU citizen buys approximately 26 kg of new clothing and throws away approximately 11 kg of used and unnecessary textile products. To counteract environmental pollution with a huge amount of clothes, often made of artificial fabrics, municipalities will be obliged to accept used fabrics. What will this look like in practice? This is not known yet and in this case the communes have a lot of freedom. They can expand the system of PSZOKs (Selective Municipal Waste Collection Points) or, for example, introduce other solutions.