FAQ: Waste and circular economy

They need not be. The calculation rules for municipalities arise from national regulations, while Eurostat publishes data reported by countries according to the EU methodology; in Poland the Eurostat series shows a sharp change in 2023, which should be checked in the metadata before drawing conclusions.

Sources: Eurostat — wskaźnik CEI wm011: recykling odpadów komunalnych (dane pobrane z API Eurostatu); Ustawa o utrzymaniu czystości i porządku w gminach — art. 3b (tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 733) — ISAP/ELI; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów (art. 11) — EUR-Lex; Odpowiedź Ministerstwa Klimatu i Środowiska na petycję (18 grudnia 2025 r.) — gov.pl

Discussed in the article: Municipal waste recycling and landfilling levels: the 2025, 2030 and 2035 targets and Eurostat data

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Partly: grass and soft green waste yield biogas, but branches, leaves and woody materials are hard to digest, so they much more often go to composting plants.

Green waste contains a lot of lignocellulose, which breaks down slowly and yields less biogas than food scraps. It is also sometimes contaminated with soil and sand, which settles in the digester. Biogas plants that accept it use shredding, removal of contaminants and sometimes dry fermentation (in garage-type chambers). Grass clippings, especially ensiled, are a valuable substrate, but seasonality and variable quality make planning difficult. Before accepting green waste, the plant should check its permit and the waste code.

Sources: IEA Bioenergy Task 37 — Energy from Biogas; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE o odpadach — EUR-Lex

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Generally no. Regulation 142/2011 requires, for material of animal origin (including kitchen waste), a closed reactor or enclosed space with temperature monitoring; other systems are possible only if the parameters are met or for strictly defined materials.

Sources: Ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2012 r. o odpadach — tekst jednolity (ISAP/ELI); Rozporządzenie Komisji (UE) nr 142/2011 — wymogi dla biogazowni i kompostowni (EUR-Lex); Rozporządzenie Ministra Środowiska z dnia 20 stycznia 2015 r. w sprawie procesu odzysku R10 (Dz.U. 2015 poz. 132)

Discussed in the article: Composting or digestion of biowaste? A comparison of process, law and odour

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No. Excrement covered by Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, straw and other natural, non-hazardous substances from agricultural or forestry production, used in agriculture or for energy from biomass, are excluded from the scope of the Act on Waste (Article 2(6)), so they go through neither the waste procedure nor the by-product procedure.

Sources: Ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2012 r. o odpadach (tekst jednolity w bieżącym brzmieniu, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1328) — ISAP/ELI; Ustawa z dnia 20 lipca 2018 r. o zmianie ustawy – Prawo ochrony środowiska oraz ustawy o odpadach (Dz.U. 2018 poz. 1564) — ELI; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów (art. 5 – produkty uboczne) — EUR-Lex

Discussed in the article: By-product or waste? The five conditions of Article 10 of the Act on waste and the recognition procedure

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Caps can be shredded and filament extruded from them, but PP and HDPE are difficult to print using FDM technology (they shrink and adhere poorly to the bed). Educational uses and other processing techniques work better.

Sources: Dyrektywa (UE) 2019/904 w sprawie produktów jednorazowych z tworzyw sztucznych — EUR-Lex; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów — EUR-Lex

Discussed in the article: 3D printing filament from plastic bottle caps: the idea, limitations and benefits

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No. Regulation 1069/2009 prohibits feeding kitchen waste to farm animals other than fur animals. It must go to an authorised recipient and be managed, e.g. at a biogas plant or composting plant after hygienisation.

Sources: Ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2012 r. o odpadach (ISAP/ELI); Rozporządzenie Ministra Klimatu z 2 stycznia 2020 r. w sprawie katalogu odpadów (Dz.U. 2020 poz. 10); Rozporządzenie (WE) nr 1069/2009 (EUR-Lex)

Discussed in the article: Kitchen and catering waste: producer obligations and the route to a biogas plant

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Digestate consists mostly of water, but it also contains fertilising components and contaminants. Recovering water requires separation and advanced treatment; more often the water from separation is returned to the process or used for irrigation.

Sources: UN-Water — World Water Development Report; FAO AQUASTAT — zużycie wody w rolnictwie; NFOŚiGW — program Moja Woda

Discussed in the article: Water in waste streams: reuse of wastewater, rainwater and digestate

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No. An asterisk denotes hazardous waste and applies only to codes marked that way in the catalogue. For mirror codes, the corresponding hazardous code is used only when the waste actually contains hazardous substances that give it hazardous properties.

Sources: Rozporządzenie Ministra Klimatu z dnia 2 stycznia 2020 r. w sprawie katalogu odpadów (Dz.U. 2020 poz. 10) — ELI; Ustawa o odpadach — art. 2 (zakres) i art. 43 (treść zezwolenia), tekst jednolity — ISAP/ELI

Discussed in the article: Waste codes at a biogas plant: how to choose a code from the catalogue and avoid mistakes (groups 02, 16, 19, 20)

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Yes, catering waste is a high-energy substrate, but it is subject to the rules on waste and on animal by-products, so the biogas plant must have a permit, a record-keeping system and an approved hygienisation line.

Kitchen and canteen waste has a code from group 20 01 08 in the waste catalogue (biodegradable kitchen and canteen waste), and food-processing waste a code from group 02. It contains meat, fats and cooked leftovers, so before digestion it is shredded and hygienised. Used cooking oils have a separate code. Restaurants should hand their waste over to authorised recipients with an entry in the BDO database and document the transfer. The biogas plant is responsible for the quality of the feedstock, rejects and sanitary safety. This is general information.

Sources: Rozporządzenie (WE) nr 1069/2009 (uboczne produkty zwierzęce) — EUR-Lex; Rozporządzenie Ministra Klimatu w sprawie katalogu odpadów (Dz.U. 2020 poz. 10) — ISAP

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No. Article 96(12) of the Act on Waste prohibits the application of municipal sewage sludge, among other places, on land used as pasture and meadows, in crops grown under cover, on land with a slope above 10% and within a 50 m strip from lakes and watercourses.

Sources: Rozporządzenie Ministra Środowiska z 6 lutego 2015 r. w sprawie komunalnych osadów ściekowych (Dz.U. 2015 poz. 257); Ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2012 r. o odpadach — art. 96 (ISAP/ELI); Rozporządzenie Ministra Gospodarki z 16 lipca 2015 r. w sprawie dopuszczania odpadów do składowania na składowiskach (Dz.U. 2015 poz. 1277)

Discussed in the article: Municipal sewage sludge: permitted uses, doses and testing under the regulations

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Only if it meets the criteria for admission to landfill, including limits for total organic carbon (5% TS), loss on ignition (8% TS) and calorific value (6 MJ/kg TS). Most sewage sludge does not meet these limits.

Sources: Rozporządzenie Ministra Gospodarki z 16 lipca 2015 r. w sprawie dopuszczania odpadów do składowania na składowiskach (Dz.U. 2015 poz. 1277); Ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2012 r. o odpadach — art. 96 (ISAP/ELI); Dyrektywa (UE) 2024/3019 o oczyszczaniu ścieków komunalnych (EUR-Lex); Rozporządzenie w sprawie stosowania komunalnych osadów ściekowych — tekst jednolity (Dz.U. 2023 poz. 23)

Discussed in the article: Sewage sludge after the landfill ban: routes, challenges and Directive 2024/3019

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Usually yes, because they contain a lot of easily degradable organic matter. However, increasing the dose too quickly can acidify the digester and reduce production, so the load is raised gradually, with FOS/TAC monitoring.

Sources: Rozporządzenie (WE) nr 1069/2009 — uboczne produkty zwierzęce — EUR-Lex; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów — EUR-Lex; IEA Bioenergy Task 37 — Energy from Biogas

Discussed in the article: Food industry waste as biogas substrates: potential and challenges

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Yes, an entity transporting waste must be entered in the BDO register and must obtain the entry before starting operations. The exception is the transport of waste it has produced itself.

Sources: Ustawa o odpadach — art. 66–72 (tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1328) — ISAP/ELI; Ustawa z dnia 23 stycznia 2020 r. o zmianie ustawy o odpadach oraz niektórych innych ustaw (Dz.U. 2020 poz. 150) — ELI; Baza danych o produktach i opakowaniach oraz o gospodarce odpadami (BDO) — Ministerstwo Klimatu i Środowiska

Discussed in the article: Waste transport in BDO: the waste transfer card (KPO), the waste records card (KEO) and carrier obligations

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If the installation processes only biomass excluded from the Act on Waste (Article 2(6): including excrement covered by Regulation 1069/2009, straw, natural substances from agriculture), a waste processing permit does not arise from that Act. When the installation accepts waste, a permit (or an integrated permit) is required.

Sources: Ustawa o odpadach — art. 41–48a (tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1328) — ISAP/ELI; Ustawa z dnia 11 czerwca 2026 r. o zmianie niektórych ustaw w celu uproszczenia procedur administracyjnych (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 875) — ELI

Discussed in the article: Waste processing permit for a biogas plant: the application, conditions and security for claims

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Yes, anaerobic digestion of bio-waste can be counted as organic recycling if the resulting digestate or compost is used as a product, e.g. applied to land to the benefit of agriculture or the improvement of the environment (Article 11a(4) of Directive 2008/98/EC), and not merely incinerated or landfilled.

The Waste Framework Directive defines recycling as the reprocessing of waste into products, materials or substances, which includes reprocessing of organic material, covering composting and digestion. Energy recovery and reprocessing into material to be used as fuel or for backfilling operations are not counted. Calculating recycling rates therefore requires documenting how much digestate actually reaches the land and in what form. For a municipality this means that bio-waste in a biogas plant can help achieve the required recycling levels.

Sources: Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE o odpadach — EUR-Lex; Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/851 zmieniająca dyrektywę o odpadach — EUR-Lex

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No, because under the waste hierarchy the best option is preventing food waste, and only then passing food to those in need or to feed, and finally processing it into biogas.

A biogas plant is a good way of managing waste that cannot be avoided, but it should not encourage the creation of surpluses. Food that is fit for consumption should first be reduced at source and, where possible, passed on to food banks. The next steps are animal feed (once veterinary requirements are met) and composting or digestion. Facilities that use food waste should operate within local waste-reduction strategies. This is consistent with the principles of the circular economy.

Sources: Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE o odpadach — EUR-Lex; Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/851 zmieniająca dyrektywę o odpadach — EUR-Lex

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No – as of October 2026, no separate general act on EPR (ROP) has been announced. The EPR rules arise from sectoral acts for packaging, electrical equipment, batteries, vehicles and other products.

Sources: Ustawa o gospodarce opakowaniami i odpadami opakowaniowymi — tekst jednolity (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 619) — ISAP/ELI; Ustawa z dnia 21 listopada 2024 r. o zmianie ustawy o gospodarce opakowaniami i odpadami opakowaniowymi oraz niektórych innych ustaw (Dz.U. 2024 poz. 1911) — ELI; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów (art. 8 i 8a – rozszerzona odpowiedzialność producenta) — EUR-Lex

Discussed in the article: Extended producer responsibility (EPR) in Poland: the legal position in 2025

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No. A food seller within the meaning of the act is an entity operating a retail or wholesale trade unit with a sales area above 250 m², in which revenue from food sales makes up at least 50% of revenue from the sale of all goods.

Sources: Ustawa z dnia 19 lipca 2019 r. o przeciwdziałaniu marnowaniu żywności — tekst jednolity (Dz.U. 2020 poz. 1645) — ISAP/ELI; Ustawa o odpadach — hierarchia postępowania z odpadami (art. 17–18), tekst jednolity — ISAP/ELI

Discussed in the article: Food waste: shop obligations, the PLN 0.1 per kg fee and the route of waste to biogas

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No. The criteria from Annex 4 refer to wastes with specific codes (19 08 05, 19 08 12, 19 08 14, 19 12 12 and group 20) landfilled at a landfill for non-hazardous and non-inert waste. Other wastes are subject to the criteria from the other annexes.

Sources: Rozporządzenie Ministra Gospodarki z dnia 16 lipca 2015 r. w sprawie dopuszczania odpadów do składowania na składowiskach (Dz.U. 2015 poz. 1277) — ELI; Odpowiedź Ministerstwa Klimatu i Środowiska na petycję z 25 września 2025 r. (18 grudnia 2025 r.) — gov.pl

Discussed in the article: Landfill ban on waste with a calorific value above 6 MJ/kg: what exactly Annex 4 says

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The movement of animal by-products is regulated separately by the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and its implementing rules. The Waste Shipment Regulation covers waste within the meaning of Directive 2008/98/EC.

Sources: Rozporządzenie (UE) 2024/1157 w sprawie przemieszczania odpadów — EUR-Lex; Waste shipments — Komisja Europejska, DG ds. Środowiska

Discussed in the article: Waste shipments: Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 and the new rules from 21 May 2026

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The Waste Framework Directive requires preparing for re-use and recycling of municipal waste of at least 55% by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035, and the Landfill Directive requires municipal waste landfilling to be limited to 10% by 2035.

These targets were introduced in the 2018 circular economy package of directives (Directives 2018/851 and 2018/850). Member States may count on some flexibilities or transition periods, and the calculation method is laid down in implementing acts. In practice this means a need to expand separate collection, bio-waste treatment and alternative methods of managing mixed waste. Municipalities are responsible for organising the system, and their results feed into national reports. The state of implementation in Poland is published by GUS (Statistics Poland) and the ministry; check the latest data.

Sources: Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/851 zmieniająca dyrektywę o odpadach — EUR-Lex; Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/850 zmieniająca dyrektywę o składowaniu — EUR-Lex

Discussed in the article: Municipal waste recycling and landfilling levels: the 2025, 2030 and 2035 targets and Eurostat data

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Directive 2018/851 requires biowaste to be collected separately or recycled at source (e.g. composted at home) by 31 December 2023 at the latest.

Sources: Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/851 zmieniająca dyrektywę 2008/98/WE — EUR-Lex; Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/850 w sprawie składowania odpadów — EUR-Lex

Discussed in the article: The transposition deadline for the EU waste package passes: recycling targets and biowaste in national law

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Both options are good: a home composter closes the material loop on site and may earn a discount on the waste charge, while the brown bin gives access to a professional facility designated by the municipality (a composting plant or biogas plant); if the waste goes to a biogas plant, energy recovery is also possible.

Compost from the garden is suitable for enriching the soil on your own plot, but it needs proper management (aeration, the right proportions of "green" and "brown" material), and if poorly managed it can smell and emit methane. Meat, dairy and diseased plants should not go into the composter, because meat and dairy attract pests and diseased plants can spread pathogens. The brown bin can also take the kitchen waste you do not want to compost, if the municipal by-laws allow it. The choice depends on the space you have, your time and the municipality's rules.

Sources: Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/851 zmieniająca dyrektywę o odpadach — EUR-Lex; Ustawa o utrzymaniu czystości i porządku w gminach — ISAP

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The Food Recycling Act (2000) imposes obligations on food businesses regarding the reduction and recycling of waste. The 2019 Act concerns reducing food losses and food waste across the whole chain, including households.

Sources: Consumer Affairs Agency (Japonia) – materiały o ograniczaniu strat żywności (PDF); Ministerstwo Środowiska Japonii – szacunek strat żywności w roku fiskalnym 2021 (09.06.2023)

Discussed in the article: Japan: the Food Recycling Act (2000) and the Food Loss Reduction Act (2019)

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The owner states in the declaration whether they have a composter and compost biowaste in it. If there is no composter, the biowaste is not composted in it, or the owner prevents inspection, the commune head (wójt), mayor (burmistrz) or city president (prezydent) determines by decision the loss of the right to the exemption.

Sources: Ustawa o utrzymaniu czystości i porządku w gminach — tekst jednolity (Dz.U. 2024 poz. 399) — ISAP/ELI; Rozporządzenie Ministra Klimatu i Środowiska z dnia 10 maja 2021 r. w sprawie sposobu selektywnego zbierania wybranych frakcji odpadów (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 906) — ELI; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów — EUR-Lex

Discussed in the article: Separate collection of biowaste in municipalities: duties of municipalities and residents, fractions, home composting

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In a biogas plant, kitchen bio-waste requires shredding, removal of packaging and contaminants and, if it contains animal-origin components, usually hygienisation (e.g. 70 °C for 60 minutes).

Food scraps are high in energy and ferment quickly, but their composition varies and can inhibit the process, e.g. through excess fat or acidification. Packaged waste (e.g. out-of-date food) goes to a depackaging unit, which separates the plastic from the organic mass. Material of animal origin is subject to EU rules on animal by-products, so the plant must be approved for it. For the quality of the digestate, clean separate collection at source is what counts; contaminants reduce the possibility of using it as a fertiliser.

Sources: Rozporządzenie (WE) nr 1069/2009 (uboczne produkty zwierzęce) — EUR-Lex; Rozporządzenie (UE) nr 142/2011 (uboczne produkty zwierzęce — przepisy wykonawcze) — EUR-Lex

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Organic waste decomposes anaerobically in a landfill, producing landfill gas containing methane. The lack of gas extraction and unstable slopes increase the risk of fires, explosions and landslides.

Sources: Two children among eight dead in Uganda landfill collapse — eNCA; Kiteezi landfill death toll jumps to 23 — Daily Monitor; Children among 8 dead in Uganda landfill landslide — VOA

Discussed in the article: Uganda: collapse of the Kiteezi landfill in Kampala. At least 23 victims

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For a fixed period, not longer than 10 years (Article 44(1)). An application for extension is submitted before the permit expires.

Sources: Ustawa o odpadach — art. 41–48a (tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1328) — ISAP/ELI; Ustawa z dnia 11 czerwca 2026 r. o zmianie niektórych ustaw w celu uproszczenia procedur administracyjnych (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 875) — ELI

Discussed in the article: Waste processing permit for a biogas plant: the application, conditions and security for claims

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Sewage sludge from municipal treatment plants is waste (e.g. code 19 08 05 – stabilised municipal sewage sludge) and is subject to separate rules, and biogas from its digestion is not agricultural biogas.

Many treatment plants have digesters in which the sludge is stabilised and produces biogas for generating energy for the plant''s own needs. Use of sludge in agriculture or for land reclamation requires meeting quality standards and permits, and its use on land is sometimes restricted, so the role of incineration and other thermal methods is growing. The Act on Renewable Energy Sources (ustawa o OZE) excludes biogas from sewage treatment plants from the definition of agricultural biogas. Sludge has its own technological and legal profile, so it should not be treated like food waste or slurry. This is general information.

Sources: Rozporządzenie Ministra Klimatu w sprawie katalogu odpadów (Dz.U. 2020 poz. 10) — ISAP; Ustawa o odpadach (Dz.U. 2013 poz. 21) — ISAP; Ustawa o odnawialnych źródłach energii (tekst jednolity Dz.U. 2024 poz. 1361), art. 2 pkt 2 — definicja biogazu rolniczego — ELI

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A waste code has six digits: the first two denote the group (e.g. 19 – waste from waste treatment facilities), the next two the subgroup and the last two the type of waste; an asterisk next to the code denotes hazardous waste.

For example, 20 01 08 is biodegradable kitchen and canteen waste, and 19 12 10 is combustible waste (refuse-derived fuel, RDF). The waste catalogue is set by the Regulation of the Minister of Climate of 2 January 2020 (Dz.U. 2020, item 10) and derives from the EU list of waste. The code is assigned by the producer according to the origin of the waste, not its possible use, and must be consistent with permits and BDO entries. An incorrect code is a frequent cause of problems in inspections and settlements. In case of doubt it is worth consulting an adviser or the authority on the classification.

Sources: Rozporządzenie Ministra Klimatu w sprawie katalogu odpadów (Dz.U. 2020 poz. 10) — ISAP; Ustawa o odpadach (Dz.U. 2013 poz. 21) — ISAP

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Yes, in many cities, including Seoul, bins with an RFID reader are in operation that weigh the waste and calculate a charge assigned to the household.

Sources: Anadolu Agency – How South Korea won the battle against food waste (20.05.2024); Wikipedia – Food waste in South Korea; Lee et al. (2009), Waste Management – metanowy potencjał odcieku z koreańskich zakładów recyklingu odpadów żywnościowych

Discussed in the article: Korea and food waste: a landfill ban, RFID containers and the road to biogas

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Both. Producing biogas is energy recovery, but fermentation of biowaste with the digestate used as a fertiliser or soil improver is recognised as organic recycling. What counts is what actually ends up in the soil.

The Act also counts organic recycling as recycling, that is, anaerobic treatment of biodegradable waste that yields organic matter or methane; recycling levels are settled on the basis of what was actually produced and used in accordance with the regulations.

Sources: Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE (ramowa o odpadach) ze zmianami z dyrektywy 2018/851 — EUR-Lex; Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/851 zmieniająca dyrektywę ramową w sprawie odpadów — EUR-Lex; Uchwała nr 88 Rady Ministrów z 1 lipca 2016 r. w sprawie Krajowego planu gospodarki odpadami 2022 (M.P. 2016 poz. 784); Ustawa o odpadach — art. 17–19 (tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1328) — ISAP/ELI

Discussed in the article: Circular economy: the EU package, the Polish roadmap and the role of biogas plants, The waste hierarchy (Articles 17 and 18) and the place of anaerobic digestion

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No. According to the ministry's communication, a receipt is not required when returning packaging to reclaim the deposit, and packaging should not be crushed before it is handed in.

Sources: System kaucyjny — Ministerstwo Klimatu i Środowiska, gov.pl; Startuje system kaucyjny — materiał Ministerstwa Klimatu i Środowiska z 23 września 2025 r.; Ustawa z dnia 9 stycznia 2026 r. o zmianie ustawy o gospodarce opakowaniami i odpadami opakowaniowymi (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 174) — ELI

Discussed in the article: The deposit return system in Poland: how it works from 1 October 2025 — deposits, shops, operators

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No. A contract helps to demonstrate certainty of further use (condition 1), but the authority assesses all five conditions together, including compliance of the use with regulations and the absence of adverse effects on the environment.

Sources: Ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2012 r. o odpadach (tekst jednolity w bieżącym brzmieniu, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1328) — ISAP/ELI; Ustawa z dnia 20 lipca 2018 r. o zmianie ustawy – Prawo ochrony środowiska oraz ustawy o odpadach (Dz.U. 2018 poz. 1564) — ELI; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów (art. 5 – produkty uboczne) — EUR-Lex

Discussed in the article: By-product or waste? The five conditions of Article 10 of the Act on waste and the recognition procedure

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It depends on the substrates and the process: digestate from waste usually has waste status until it goes through a procedure to convert it into a product, while digestate from agricultural substrates can be a fertiliser or a plant biostimulant without waste status.

Waste can cease to be waste once the "end-of-waste" conditions of Directive 2008/98/EC (Article 6) are met. Digestate can also be a fertilising product bearing the CE mark under Regulation (EU) 2019/1009, if it meets the requirements of that regulation, or it can be applied to land as waste in a recovery process R10 after the relevant approvals have been obtained. The choice of route has consequences for documentation and quality testing. Details on digestate and fertilisers are covered in a separate FAQ category; this is general information, not legal advice.

Digestate can also be a by-product once notified to the marshal of the voivodeship. What decides is the feedstock, the holder's intention and the route chosen.

Sources: Rozporządzenie (UE) 2019/1009 w sprawie produktów nawozowych UE — EUR-Lex; Ustawa o nawozach i nawożeniu — ISAP; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE o odpadach — EUR-Lex; Rozporządzenie (WE) nr 1069/2009 — uboczne produkty zwierzęce — EUR-Lex; Biogazownie rolnicze — nowe warunki od 11 września 2023 — KOWR; Ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2012 r. o odpadach (ISAP/ELI); Ustawa z dnia 10 lipca 2007 r. o nawozach i nawożeniu — tekst jednolity z 2021 r. (ISAP/ELI); Rozporządzenie Ministra Środowiska z 20 stycznia 2015 r. w sprawie procesu odzysku R10 (Dz.U. 2015 poz. 132)

Discussed in the article: Digestate: fertiliser from a biogas plant, its composition, legal status and application, Digestate: fertiliser or waste? Legal routes: R10, by-product, fertiliser permit, End-of-waste status (Article 14): when compost or digestate stops being waste

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Processing waste in a digester is organic recycling, which in the classification of recovery operations corresponds to R3; the Act explicitly recognises anaerobic treatment of biodegradable waste as recycling. Using the resulting biogas for energy is a separate activity, and its classification is determined in the permit or authorisation.

Sources: Ustawa o odpadach — załączniki nr 1 i 2 (tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1328) — ISAP/ELI; Rozporządzenie Ministra Środowiska z dnia 20 stycznia 2015 r. w sprawie procesu odzysku R10 (Dz.U. 2015 poz. 132) — ELI; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów (załączniki I i II) — EUR-Lex

Discussed in the article: R1, R3, R10 and D10: how the Waste Act classifies recovery and disposal

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Yes. Packaging fractions (e.g. plastics, metals, glass) are separate wastes with their own codes and must be handed over to an authorised recipient; they are recorded in BDO (the waste database).

Sources: Ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2012 r. o odpadach (ISAP/ELI); Rozporządzenie Ministra Klimatu z 2 stycznia 2020 r. w sprawie katalogu odpadów (Dz.U. 2020 poz. 10); Rozporządzenie (WE) nr 1069/2009 (EUR-Lex)

Discussed in the article: Depackaging: expired food in packaging and the regulations for biogas plants

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Yes, the Waste Framework Directive requires EU Member States to ensure that from the end of 2023 bio-waste is collected separately or recycled at source, e.g. in home composters, and in Poland municipalities organise the collection system while property owners must sort their waste.

Directive 2008/98/EC, as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851, introduced this requirement, and Polish rules on keeping municipalities clean and orderly oblige property owners to sort waste and municipalities to organise collection. Many municipalities offer discounts to residents who compost bio-waste in their own home composter. Failure to sort waste may result in a higher waste charge, under rules adopted by the municipality. Detailed obligations and rates follow from municipal resolutions; this is general information, not legal advice.

Sources: Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/851 zmieniająca dyrektywę o odpadach — EUR-Lex; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE o odpadach — EUR-Lex

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Slurry used on the farm as a natural fertiliser in accordance with the regulations is not treated as waste, but its status depends on how it is used and by whom.

Animal excreta are, in agriculture, a natural fertiliser regulated by the Act on Fertilisers and Fertilisation and by rules on protecting waters against nitrates. In a biogas plant, slurry is a valuable substrate that improves process stability and the climate balance, and its status depends on its use and on the rules on animal by-products. Passing slurry on to another entity, in quantities and on terms other than ordinary agricultural practice, may require additional documents. Always check the relevant regulations and, if necessary, consult an agri-environmental adviser. This is general information.

Sources: Ustawa o nawozach i nawożeniu — ISAP; Ustawa o odpadach (Dz.U. 2013 poz. 21) — ISAP; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE o odpadach — EUR-Lex; Rozporządzenie (WE) nr 1069/2009 (uboczne produkty pochodzenia zwierzęcego) — EUR-Lex

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Yes, property owners collect municipal waste separately in accordance with the regulations of the municipality and the ordinance; the exception is where the municipality has exempted the owner from the obligation to have a biowaste bin because the owner composts it in a home compost bin and the municipal regulations provide for this.

Sources: Ustawa o utrzymaniu czystości i porządku w gminach — tekst jednolity (Dz.U. 2024 poz. 399) — ISAP/ELI; Rozporządzenie Ministra Klimatu i Środowiska z dnia 10 maja 2021 r. w sprawie sposobu selektywnego zbierania wybranych frakcji odpadów (Dz.U. 2021 poz. 906) — ELI; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów — EUR-Lex

Discussed in the article: Separate collection of biowaste in municipalities: duties of municipalities and residents, fractions, home composting

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Excrement covered by Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, straw and other natural non-hazardous substances from agricultural production, used for energy from biomass, are excluded from the scope of the Act on Waste (Article 2(6)). If the installation does not accept waste, waste records for these substrates do not arise from the Act, but adding waste (e.g. slaughterhouse or food waste) makes it a waste holder.

Sources: Ustawa o odpadach — art. 49–59 i 66–78 (tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1328) — ISAP/ELI; Baza danych o produktach i opakowaniach oraz o gospodarce odpadami (BDO) — serwis Ministerstwa Klimatu i Środowiska

Discussed in the article: BDO for biogas plants: register entry, records cards and the report due by 15 March

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Not absolutely. Article 18(3) allows other recovery processes where recycling is not possible for technological reasons or is not justified for environmental or economic reasons. Such a derogation must, however, be justified.

Sources: Ustawa o odpadach — art. 17–19 (tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1328) — ISAP/ELI; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów (art. 4 – hierarchia, art. 3 – definicja recyklingu) — EUR-Lex

Discussed in the article: The waste hierarchy (Articles 17 and 18) and the place of anaerobic digestion

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Usually not: many municipalities ban plastic bags in bio-waste bins because they make processing harder, and a "biodegradable" label does not guarantee that the bag will break down under the conditions of a particular composting plant or biogas plant.

The rules are set by the municipal by-laws or by the contract with the waste collection company. The safest options are paper bags, special bags supplied under the municipal scheme, or putting bio-waste loose in the bin. Some facilities accept compostable bags that meet the industrial compostability standard, but these need a specific time and temperature that not every plant provides. Collection in ordinary plastic bags lowers the quality of the compost and may result in the bin being classed as contaminated. Information is provided by the municipality or the operator.

Sources: Ustawa o utrzymaniu czystości i porządku w gminach — ISAP; Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/851 zmieniająca dyrektywę o odpadach — EUR-Lex

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A person placing products in packaging on the market can fulfil the obligations independently or commission a packaging recovery organisation, which concludes contracts with recyclers and settles the levels. In both cases, failure to fulfil the obligation results in a product fee.

Sources: Ustawa o gospodarce opakowaniami i odpadami opakowaniowymi — tekst jednolity (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 619) — ISAP/ELI; Ustawa z dnia 21 listopada 2024 r. o zmianie ustawy o gospodarce opakowaniami i odpadami opakowaniowymi oraz niektórych innych ustaw (Dz.U. 2024 poz. 1911) — ELI; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów (art. 8 i 8a – rozszerzona odpowiedzialność producenta) — EUR-Lex

Discussed in the article: Extended producer responsibility (EPR) in Poland: the legal position in 2025

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Waste from food processing falls mainly into group 02 of the waste catalogue, e.g. 02 02 03 (materials unsuitable for consumption or processing, of animal origin) and 02 03 04 (such materials of plant origin).

Group 02 also includes, among others, animal tissue waste (02 02 02), sludge from on-site effluent treatment (e.g. 02 02 04, 02 03 05) and waste from the dairy and beverage industries. The code depends on the type of activity and the nature of the waste, not on whether the waste is suitable for a biogas plant. When waste is handed over to a biogas plant, the code must be included in its permit, and animal waste must comply with the rules on animal by-products. Check the current codes in the regulation on the waste catalogue (Dz.U. 2020, item 10).

Sources: Rozporządzenie Ministra Klimatu w sprawie katalogu odpadów (Dz.U. 2020 poz. 10) — ISAP; Ustawa o odpadach (Dz.U. 2013 poz. 21) — ISAP

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Waste is an item that its holder discards; a by-product arises in a process whose primary aim is not to produce it, and meets the conditions of Article 5 of the Directive; and material that has reached "end-of-waste" status (Article 6) is waste that has undergone recycling or another recovery process and meets the criteria for a given use.

A by-product must be certain to be further used, be capable of use without further processing other than normal industrial practice, be produced as an integral part of a production process and meet all legal requirements for its use. End-of-waste status requires, among other things, an existing market or demand and compliance with standards. The mere fact that a material can be sold is not enough for it to cease to be waste. The decision is based on EU and national legislation and on process documentation. This is general information.

Sources: Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE o odpadach — EUR-Lex; Ustawa o odpadach (Dz.U. 2013 poz. 21) — ISAP

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According to information from the European Commission, most provisions of Regulation 2024/1157 apply from that date, and EU shipment procedures are to be carried out electronically in the DIWASS system. Until then, Regulation 1013/2006 applied.

Sources: Rozporządzenie (UE) 2024/1157 w sprawie przemieszczania odpadów — EUR-Lex; Waste shipments — Komisja Europejska, DG ds. Środowiska

Discussed in the article: Waste shipments: Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 and the new rules from 21 May 2026

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The brown bin usually takes plant-based kitchen waste (peelings, vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds), garden green waste and food scraps, but the exact list depends on the rules of the particular municipality.

In some municipalities cooked leftovers, bread, eggshells and a small amount of meat or bones are also accepted, while in others such waste must go into the mixed-waste bin. Do not put in plastic, glass, metals, hygiene waste, stones, gravel, ash, large amounts of soil or animal faeces (e.g. cat litter with droppings). Pay attention to the rules on bags: many municipalities require paper bags or dedicated bags supplied by the city. The guidelines are published by the municipality in its waste-management by-laws and on the council's website.

Sources: Ustawa o utrzymaniu czystości i porządku w gminach — ISAP; Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/851 zmieniająca dyrektywę o odpadach — EUR-Lex

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According to the project documents, the landfill gas was to be cleaned and delivered by pipeline to the REDUC refinery; we found no confirmation of current operation after the landfill closed in 2012.

Sources: Gramacho Landfill Gas-to-Energy System — US EPA (archiwum); Gramacho Landfill — plakat Global Methane Initiative; SF Environment — Zero Waste; Amager Resource Center (ARC)

Discussed in the article: No shortage of ideas for landfills: landfill gas, sorting, composting and thermal treatment

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It becomes waste and goes on to further management in line with the waste hierarchy. For food waste this often means organic recycling (composting or fermentation), and for products of animal origin, meeting sanitary requirements.

Sources: Ustawa z dnia 19 lipca 2019 r. o przeciwdziałaniu marnowaniu żywności — tekst jednolity (Dz.U. 2020 poz. 1645) — ISAP/ELI; Ustawa o odpadach — hierarchia postępowania z odpadami (art. 17–18), tekst jednolity — ISAP/ELI

Discussed in the article: Food waste: shop obligations, the PLN 0.1 per kg fee and the route of waste to biogas

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Mixed waste usually goes to a mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) plant, where raw materials and an energy fraction are separated out, or directly to an incinerator; the residue may be landfilled.

In an MBT plant the waste is sorted mechanically, metals and plastics are separated for recycling, the high-calorific fraction is processed into refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for incinerators or cement plants, and the organic fraction is biologically stabilised. The residues (ballast) are landfilled. The EU is moving towards limiting landfilling to 10% of municipal waste by 2035, so the role of incinerators and effective separate collection is growing. Mixed waste is the most expensive to manage; good sorting therefore lowers costs for the municipality and residents.

Sources: Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/851 zmieniająca dyrektywę o odpadach — EUR-Lex; Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/850 zmieniająca dyrektywę o składowaniu — EUR-Lex

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Used edible oils and fats (code 20 01 25 among municipal waste) go to specialised recipients who produce biodiesel or other biofuels from them, and some fats are also digested in biogas plants.

Fats have a very high methane potential, but they can destabilise digestion, so they are dosed carefully, in gradually increasing amounts. Catering businesses and food plants should hand used oil over to authorised recipients with an entry in the BDO database and document the transfer. In renewable energy regulations, waste fats are among the feedstocks with a special status (limits and control of abuse), because the market fears fraud. The details follow from the rules on waste, animal by-products and the sustainability criteria of the RED Directive.

Sources: Rozporządzenie Ministra Klimatu w sprawie katalogu odpadów (Dz.U. 2020 poz. 10) — ISAP; Rozporządzenie (WE) nr 1069/2009 (uboczne produkty zwierzęce) — EUR-Lex

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Biowaste from the brown bin goes to a biowaste processing installation, i.e. a composting plant or a biogas plant, where it is cleaned of contaminants and converted into compost or into biogas and digestate.

After collection, the waste is weighed and recorded, and then at the installation contaminants such as plastic, glass or metals are removed and the mass is shredded. In a composting plant the material is aerated and stabilised, while in a biogas plant it is fermented without oxygen; this produces biogas, which can be converted into electricity, heat or biomethane, and digestate, which after further treatment is sometimes used as a fertiliser or soil improver. Contaminants and fractions unsuitable for processing are sent for further management, e.g. to an incinerator. The quality of separate collection directly affects the value of the end product.

Sources: Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/851 zmieniająca dyrektywę o odpadach — EUR-Lex; Ustawa o utrzymaniu czystości i porządku w gminach — ISAP; Ustawa o odpadach (Dz.U. 2013 poz. 21) — ISAP

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The waste transfer card (KPO) is a document in the BDO confirming that waste has been handed over from the producer to the transporter and to the processing facility, with its weight, code and the details of the participants in the chain.

With it, the route of the waste can be traced from the source to the place of processing, and the authorities can verify compliance with permits. The producer creates the card electronically, the transporter confirms collection and the recipient confirms receipt, which closes the loop. Errors in the code or the mass may cause problems with settlement and inspections. Biogas plants that accept waste must confirm cards on an ongoing basis. Detailed rules are set out in the Waste Act and in the regulations on the BDO. This is general information.

Sources: Baza danych o produktach i opakowaniach oraz o gospodarce odpadami (BDO); Ustawa o odpadach (Dz.U. 2013 poz. 21) — ISAP

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Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is the principle that producers and importers who place products on the market are financially and organisationally responsible for managing the waste from them, e.g. packaging, after the end of use.

The aim is to shift costs from municipalities and taxpayers to the entities that place products on the market, and to encourage the design of packaging that is easy to recycle. In Poland the packaging system today relies on recovery organisations and the product fee. The draft of a new Act on Packaging and Packaging Waste (UC100), intended to ensure application of the PPWR Regulation (EU) 2025/40 and to rebuild the EPR system, was published by the Ministry of Climate and Environment in the RCL on 13 August 2025, and an amended version of 13 March 2026 was sent on for further consultation. By the end of October 2026 the draft had not reached the Sejm.

Fee rates often depend on recyclability.

Sources: Ustawa o gospodarce opakowaniami i odpadami opakowaniowymi — ISAP; Ministerstwo Klimatu i Środowiska; Rozporządzenie (UE) 2023/1542 w sprawie baterii i zużytych baterii — EUR-Lex; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów — EUR-Lex; Dyrektywa (UE) 2019/904 w sprawie ograniczenia wpływu niektórych produktów z tworzyw sztucznych na środowisko — EUR-Lex

Discussed in the article: Challenges for recycling and waste management in Poland: EPR, infrastructure and new waste streams

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The deposit return scheme is a mandatory mechanism for refunding deposits on selected beverage packaging (single-use PET bottles up to 3 l, cans up to 1 l and reusable glass bottles up to 1.5 l), which launched in Poland on 1 October 2025.

The buyer pays a deposit in the price of the drink and gets it back by returning the empty bottle or can in a shop, in a machine or at another collection point; for PET and cans the deposit is 50 grosz. Large and medium-sized shops are obliged to accept packaging, while smaller ones may join voluntarily. The aim is to increase separate collection and the quality of recycling, including bottle-to-bottle recycling. The scheme relieves part of the packaging stream in municipal waste. Details and exceptions are set by the act and regulations, and their application is confirmed in ministry announcements.

Sources: Ustawa o gospodarce opakowaniami i odpadami opakowaniowymi — ISAP; Ministerstwo Klimatu i Środowiska

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The waste hierarchy is the order of preferred actions set out in Directive 2008/98/EC: prevention, preparing for re-use, recycling, other recovery (including energy recovery), and finally disposal, e.g. landfilling.

The principle means that the best waste is the waste that was never generated, e.g. thanks to reducing food waste. Only when waste cannot be avoided or re-used are recycling and recovery considered. Bio-waste biogas plants fall under organic recycling (if the digestate returns to the soil) or recovery, while incineration with energy recovery ranks lower. The hierarchy is not rigid: it allows departures where this results from a life-cycle assessment. National legislation implements it in the Waste Act.

Sources: Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE o odpadach — EUR-Lex; Ustawa o odpadach (Dz.U. 2013 poz. 21) — ISAP

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In the event of a system failure, record-keeping documents are prepared in paper or electronic form outside BDO using the templates from the Act, and the data are entered into BDO immediately after the failure ends, no later than within 30 days.

Sources: Ustawa o odpadach — art. 66–72 (tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1328) — ISAP/ELI; Ustawa z dnia 23 stycznia 2020 r. o zmianie ustawy o odpadach oraz niektórych innych ustaw (Dz.U. 2020 poz. 150) — ELI; Baza danych o produktach i opakowaniach oraz o gospodarce odpadami (BDO) — Ministerstwo Klimatu i Środowiska

Discussed in the article: Waste transport in BDO: the waste transfer card (KPO), the waste records card (KEO) and carrier obligations

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The reports referred to in Articles 73, 74a and 75 of the Waste Act (ustawa o odpadach) are submitted by 15 March for the previous calendar year to the voivodeship marshal, via an account in BDO. For the report on waste generated and waste management, the competent marshal is the one for the place where the waste is generated, collected or processed.

Sources: Ustawa o odpadach — art. 49–59 i 66–78 (tekst jednolity, Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1328) — ISAP/ELI; Baza danych o produktach i opakowaniach oraz o gospodarce odpadami (BDO) — serwis Ministerstwa Klimatu i Środowiska

Discussed in the article: BDO for biogas plants: register entry, records cards and the report due by 15 March

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The catalogue contains code 16 03 80 "food products that are expired or unfit for consumption". However, the rule is: first look for an entry according to the source of generation in groups 01–12 and 17–20; group 16 is used when there is no appropriate entry in those groups.

Sources: Rozporządzenie Ministra Klimatu z dnia 2 stycznia 2020 r. w sprawie katalogu odpadów (Dz.U. 2020 poz. 10) — ELI; Ustawa o odpadach — art. 2 (zakres) i art. 43 (treść zezwolenia), tekst jednolity — ISAP/ELI

Discussed in the article: Waste codes at a biogas plant: how to choose a code from the catalogue and avoid mistakes (groups 02, 16, 19, 20)

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There is no rule. Odours are determined by the unloading method, hall enclosure, air filtration and storage time, not by the technology itself. Open windrows and uncovered digestate stores cause the most problems.

Sources: Ustawa z dnia 14 grudnia 2012 r. o odpadach — tekst jednolity (ISAP/ELI); Rozporządzenie Komisji (UE) nr 142/2011 — wymogi dla biogazowni i kompostowni (EUR-Lex); Rozporządzenie Ministra Środowiska z dnia 20 stycznia 2015 r. w sprawie procesu odzysku R10 (Dz.U. 2015 poz. 132)

Discussed in the article: Composting or digestion of biowaste? A comparison of process, law and odour

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At least paper, glass, metals and plastics, and bio-waste, and at EU level also textiles and hazardous household waste, which require separate collection.

The Waste Framework Directive obliges Member States to collect these streams separately, including textiles from 1 January 2025. In Poland municipalities organise it, and residents sort according to the by-laws. Bin colours are standardised (paper blue, glass green, metals and plastics yellow, bio-waste brown, and mixed waste usually black), but a municipality may introduce additional fractions. Problematic waste goes to municipal separate-collection points (PSZOK). The quality of sorting determines the value of the raw materials and of the bio-waste sent to biogas plants.

Sources: Ustawa o utrzymaniu czystości i porządku w gminach — ISAP; Dyrektywa (UE) 2018/851 zmieniająca dyrektywę o odpadach — EUR-Lex

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There is no single authority that "grants" such a status. The conditions are set by EU law, a ministerial regulation or a waste processing permit; it is the waste holder who is responsible for the documentation and for the material actually meeting them.

Sources: Ustawa o odpadach — art. 14, 15, 42 i 43 (tekst jednolity z 2023 r.) — ISAP/ELI; Rozporządzenie Ministra Środowiska z dnia 20 stycznia 2015 r. w sprawie procesu odzysku R10 (Dz.U. 2015 poz. 132) — ELI; Dyrektywa 2008/98/WE w sprawie odpadów (art. 6 – utrata statusu odpadów) — EUR-Lex

Discussed in the article: End-of-waste status (Article 14): when compost or digestate stops being waste

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Waste holders, including producers and entities transporting waste. A biogas plant that receives waste as a substrate or generates waste is such an entity and must keep records in BDO.

Sources: Baza danych o produktach i opakowaniach oraz o gospodarce odpadami (BDO); Ewidencja odpadów w BDO od 1 stycznia 2020 r. — Gramwzielone.pl

Discussed in the article: From 1 January 2020, waste records only through the BDO

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Registration in the BDO (the database on products, packaging and waste management) is mandatory for entities engaged in waste-related activity, and a biogas plant that accepts waste records in it the receipt and processing of that waste.

The BDO holds the electronic waste records (waste transfer cards and waste records cards) and is used for filing reports. The registration and registry number do not replace a permit for waste processing, where one is required, so a BDO number does not mean the right to accept every type of waste. The documentation must be consistent with the permit and with the codes of the waste accepted. Good practice is an internal procedure for verifying deliveries before unloading. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources: Baza danych o produktach i opakowaniach oraz o gospodarce odpadami (BDO); Ustawa o odpadach (Dz.U. 2013 poz. 21) — ISAP

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It contains a lot of fats and proteins, so its methane potential is high. At the same time it requires hygienisation and careful dosing, because fats and ammonia can inhibit digestion.

Sources: Lagos abattoir converts cow waste to biogas — The Guardian Nigeria; Why Abuja's first municipal biogas plant project is stalled — ThisDay (5.06.2018); Potential for cleaner energy recovery and electricity generation from abattoir wastes in Nigeria — Energy Reports 6 (2020)

Discussed in the article: Nigeria: biogas from abattoirs in Lagos and Abuja. What works and what has stalled

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According to the ministry, the criterion was meant to ensure that combustible fractions would not be landfilled but would go to incineration plants, where energy recovery is considered more beneficial for the environment than landfilling. The criterion was introduced into the landfill regulations in mid-2007.

Sources: Rozporządzenie Ministra Gospodarki z dnia 16 lipca 2015 r. w sprawie dopuszczania odpadów do składowania na składowiskach (Dz.U. 2015 poz. 1277) — ELI; Odpowiedź Ministerstwa Klimatu i Środowiska na petycję z 25 września 2025 r. (18 grudnia 2025 r.) — gov.pl

Discussed in the article: Landfill ban on waste with a calorific value above 6 MJ/kg: what exactly Annex 4 says

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Mixtures of plastics, tyres, batteries and other materials burn, releasing dioxins, PAHs and heavy metals. Fires can last for days, and the smoke travels long distances.

Sources: Pożary składowisk: stop patologiom w gospodarce odpadami — Ministerstwo Klimatu i Środowiska (gov.pl); Plaga pożarów nielegalnych wysypisk śmieci? Nie do końca — Demagog; Strażacy kontrolują składowiska odpadów w całym kraju — Radio Kielce (aktualizacja)

Discussed in the article: Fires at landfills and illegal waste stores: scale, consequences and prevention

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No. The deposit can be reclaimed only for packaging bearing the deposit scheme mark. During the transitional period until the end of 2025, shops could stock one company's drinks both in packaging with a deposit and without one.

Sources: System kaucyjny — Ministerstwo Klimatu i Środowiska, gov.pl; Startuje system kaucyjny — materiał Ministerstwa Klimatu i Środowiska z 23 września 2025 r.; Ustawa z dnia 9 stycznia 2026 r. o zmianie ustawy o gospodarce opakowaniami i odpadami opakowaniowymi (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 174) — ELI

Discussed in the article: The deposit return system in Poland: how it works from 1 October 2025 — deposits, shops, operators

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