Alicji Wiater

Debate “ Are we ready to implement the deposit system in Poland?” PAP Media Room

Yesterday, March 13 at 1:00 p.m. there was a debate “Are we ready to implement the deposit system in Poland?” organized by PAP Biznes . Paweł Sosnowski, the Management Board’s representative for Interzero, took part in the event on behalf of Interzero. environmental regulations.

The draft law on the deposit system, adopted at the end of the last term, will enter into force on January 1, 2025. Its provisions raised many objections from the industry, which demanded a postponement of the date of entry into force of the new regulations and a revision of the project. The debate focused on finding answers to key questions about the system:

• What are the goals of introducing a deposit system in Poland
• Basic advantages and disadvantages of the solutions adopted by the legislator in the deposit deposit system
• Main proposals for amending the Act on the deposit system
• Position of the Ministry of Climate and Environment on the solutions adopted in the draft act
• Experiences of other European countries implementing similar solutions
• Is the industry ready for the implementation of the Act from January 1, 2025?
• Operational tasks required for the system to operate, broken down by key stakeholder groups
• Is the depository system managed by one or several operators?
• Recommendations regarding actions aimed at the rapid dissemination of the deposit system

Will it be possible to launch deposit systems in 2025?

“I think so. We know that the deposit system will be in force in Poland from 2025, and the act was published in September last year, so those who intend to create these deposit systems have been working on it for some time. Of course, time is short, these systems will probably not be launched on January 1, but they will probably be launched in the following months.” – said Paweł Sosnowski

“The changes to the Act are going in the right direction. These are not revolutionary changes, but supplement these provisions with necessary corrections that were expected by entrepreneurs. The changes that were proposed did not include a coordinator of deposit systems – the so-called an umbrella institution that would synchronize the operation of several deposit systems, following the example of the German institution established by entrepreneurs. There are no proposals for improving the collection of waste from commercial units, i.e. reducing the administrative requirements related to the transport of packaging waste. It would also reduce the carbon footprint because waste from stores could be collected in the same vehicles as products are delivered.” – comments Paweł Sosnowski

The packaging revolution is fast approaching. There are only a few months left to adapt to the new legal realities. If you place drinks on the market in packaging covered by the deposit system, you can fulfill your statutory obligations yourself by calculating and paying the product fee or by joining the deposit system, in which the representing entity will be responsible for fulfilling the statutory obligations.

The Polish Chamber of Recovery and Recycling of Packaging (PIOIRO) will establish a representative entity and entrust Interzero with tasks related to the construction and operation of the deposit system. Trust the experts and join us. More information HERE

The recording of the debate is available at the link HERE

Photos: PAP MediaRoom

Entrepreneur! Remember to submit an annual report on CO2 emissions for 2023

We would like to remind you that until March 31, 2024 the operator of the installation or aircraft operator is obliged to submit to the National Center for Emission Balancing and Management (KOBiZE) a verified annual report for 2023, i.e. an annual report on the volume of emissions together with a verification report. Within the same deadline, the operator of the installation or aircraft operator shall submit a copy of the report and a copy of the report to the authority competent to issue the permit.

The documents should be prepared on forms in Excel format developed on the basis of forms and guidelines published by the European Commission, available on the website of the National Center at www.kobize.pl in the “Materials for download” tab.

More information HERE

For our clients who use the environment and whose activities cause emissions, Interzero prepares and enters into the National Database, by the end of February each year, a report containing the information specified in Art. 6 sec. 2 points 1-10 of the Act of 17 July 2009. on the system for managing emissions of greenhouse gases and other substances, relating to the previous calendar year.

Do you need more information about air emissions and your responsibilities? Take advantage of training at Interzero Academy.

• TRAINING | The most common errors in emission and waste reporting
• TRAINING | Obligations of entrepreneurs regarding air emissions

More training here: https://academy.interzero.pl/

If you are not sure whether your company properly fulfills its environmental obligations, use an Environmental Audit conducted by our experts!

Take part in the international Interzero webinar “New requirements for batteries and waste batteries in the light of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council”!

We hereby invite you to the webinar entitled: “New requirements for batteries and waste batteries in the light of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council”, which will take place on March 27, 2024. (Wednesday).

The online training will be conducted by: Przemysław Kuna , Managing Director of Interzero Polska

The scope of the webinar:

1. sustainability and safety requirements
2. labeling and marking requirements
3. the role of introducers, importers and distributors
4. implementing due diligence systems
5. battery waste management, including extended producer responsibility

More details and the registration page can be found HERE

Registration for the webinar is open until: March 27, 2024. at. 8:00.

Register today!

Join the event on LinkedIn HERE

Changes in the Act regarding deposit system in Poland

On March 7, a press conference was held during which the Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, Anita Sowińska, talked about the proposed changes to the deposit system.

What will change?

1. Deposit without VAT. Both single-use and reusable packaging will be exempt from VAT.
2. The deposit will “follow” the packaging. Just like in other countries with a deposit system.
3. The deposit amount is PLN 50 for plastic packaging and metal cans and PLN 1 for glass bottles.
4. Obligation to accept reusable glass packaging by small shops that sell such drinks.
5. Inclusion of packaging for dairy products from 2026.
6. Incorporation of standard reusable glass packaging.
7. Harmonized system for labeling returnable packaging – a common symbol for returnable packaging and a barcode.

We invite you to watch the recording from the conference HERE

As Interzero, we are ready for the upcoming statutory changes. You can now check out our offer of bottle lockers that will make it easier for you to collect returnable packaging in your retail chain.

We also offer professional advice for companies creating and participating in the deposit system: for producers and distributors as well as for representing entities. We provide comprehensive service for deposit systems, including: in the field of collection and logistics of packaging and packaging waste and their management. You can join the system created by us and PIOIRO to ensure that your statutory obligations are met. More information HERE

Summary of the 9th European Congress of Local Governments Economic Forum

On March 4-5, 2024 The 9th European Congress of Local Governments took place in Mikołajki. Paweł Lesiak , Vice-President of the Management Board, took part in the event on behalf of Interzero. The theme of this year’s edition was “The future of the idea of ​​decentralization in a changing world.”

Technological development, social changes and challenges

Local government reforms have brought Europe decades of effective economic growth and regional development. The local government reform in the Third Polish Republic is considered one of the best, enabling effective absorption of EU funds, participation in cross-border programs and implementation of strategic regional projects.

Responsible as a manufacturer, i.e. waiting for a revolution – MyCompany Polska debate

Why is extended producer responsibility an important topic for participants of the deposit system? What role will municipalities play in the system? What will the PPWR directive change? These and other questions were answered by the participants of the MyCompany Polska debate, in which Interzero was represented by Przemysław Kuna, Managing Director at Interzero.

Last week, there was a debate “Responsible as a manufacturer, i.e. waiting for a revolution”, in which Przemysław Kuna, Managing Director at Interzero, Krzysztof Baczyński, President of the Management Board of the Association of Employers of the Packaging and Packaging Products Industry EKO-PAK and Artur Łobocki took part. Member of the Management Board of the Foundation for the Recovery of Aluminum Packaging RECAL.

The participants of the debate focused on issues related to the adoption of a deposit-refund system in Poland from 2025, as well as new levels of packaging collection dictated by the transposition of the PPWR directive. It was noted that new deposit fees pose a high threat to the market in the face of the low level of recovery of secondary raw materials in Poland. Attention was also drawn to the low awareness of waste recycling among Poles. Experts emphasized the important role of municipalities in the system and the validity of penalties and product fees.

We encourage you to read the entire material HERE .

Interzero Polska and the Polish Chamber of Recovery and Recycling of Packaging will create a representative entity for companies in the deposit system – find out more here: https://systemkauacyjny.pioiro.pl/ .

Environmental education and public educational campaigns – Interzero report for 2023

As Interzero Packaging Recovery Organization SA and Interzero Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recovery Organization SA, we carry out educational campaigns for entrepreneurs who have entrusted us with their obligation to recover packaging as part of the statutory obligation. We invite you to read the report of our educational activities in 2023.

In 2023, we were actively involved in the implementation of educational projects and campaigns addressed to both children and youth, as well as adults, including entrepreneurs and consumers.

• As part of the Eco no edges project, we educate Poles in the field of ecology, environmental protection and waste segregation. We have produced 7 podcast episodes (also available on Apple Podcasts , YouTube and Spotify ) and have also managed to gather a wide reach on our social media profiles on Facebook and Instagram .
• EcoPaka , i.e. educational materials for schools, containing lesson plans, coloring books, games and art materials related to raw materials, were sent to 120 kindergartens that were most active in the local government’s Bicycle May campaign.
• We have also prepared our own educational game ‘Action-faction!’ , which teaches children and adults about proper waste segregation in an accessible way. The game was available at events supported by Interzero.
• As part of cooperation with the Mama Projekt collective, we became a substantive patron of one of the rooms of the newly opened Punkt Zwrotny educational center at ul. Jagiellońska 88 in Warsaw, where children and teenagers learn the secrets of fast fashion and learn about packaging. We also support the traveling exhibition EkoExperymentarium , which was visited live by over 13,000 people last year alone. visitors and 499 thousand online players.
• Together with the Museum of Photography in Krakow, we implemented it project “Closed circuit. “Waste in photography”, based on journalism and photography workshops, and together with UNEP/GRID-Warszawa – a series of workshops in the Royal Łazienki Park and an exhibition of 10 collages encouraging to reduce the amount of waste. The exhibition can be rented via the Spółdzielnia portal.
• We also organized many attractions during the next edition of the Zero Waste Fair , and we substantively supported three thematic days in the Preschooler’s Calendar program run by the To Proste Foundation and Intersnack in the “Don’t throw away, use” program.
• Once again, together with UNEP/GRID-Warszawa and the Czepczyński Family Foundation, we became a partner of the educational program implemented by the Maspex group , Kubusiowi friends of nature , which has been operating for 16 years and has reached 10 million children.

As part of the educational activities of entrepreneurs, Interzero has prepared 8 online training courses in the field of reporting, changes dictated by the transposition of the SUP directive or waste management, as well as other training courses available on the Interzero Academy platform. The 10th anniversary edition of the Interzero Environmental Conference was also held, for the first time in an open format, where we focused mainly on SUP and the establishment of a deposit system. Our experts have appeared in debates and other publications from such titles as Forbes, MyCompany and Rzeczpospolita, as well as in industry magazines (Teraz Środowisko).

We encourage you to read the details of the report HERE .

Big changes in the German deposit system!

From January 1, 2024, the German Pfandsystem also covers selected bottles of milk and similar drinks.

The German deposit system (Pfandsystem) has been in operation for almost 20 years and covers plastic bottles, aluminum cans and glass bottles. From January 1, 2024, it covers another group of packaging – from now on, German stores will charge a deposit of €0.25 for bottles of milk and similar drinks with a capacity above 0.1 L.

The new deposit includes, among others:

• Milk bottles;
• Milk-based beverage bottles;
• Bottles of cocoa and coffee drinks with milk content above 50%;
• Bottles of drinking yogurt and kefir.

New regulations have been introduced by the largest German supermarkets. In its current form, the deposit system in Germany covers almost all non-returnable drinks in bottles and cans.

The Polish deposit system for returnable packaging will start in 2025. The deposit obligation will apply to single-use plastic bottles for drinks with a capacity of up to 3 L, reusable glass bottles for drinks with a capacity of up to 1.5 L, and metal packaging for drinks with a capacity of up to 1 L. Interzero together with Polish Chamber of Recovery and Recycling of Packaging will create a deposit system – read more HERE.

Ecological shopping space in the Janki Shopping Center

Taking care of ecological urban space is important for many reasons. First, such places attract huge numbers of people every day, which means that even small changes can have a large impact on the environment. The implementation of modern solutions, e.g. in a shopping center, may contribute to improving the level of waste segregation, increasing the ecological awareness of visitors to a given place, and will result in savings and lower operating costs of the building and its surroundings.

Public education plays a key role in promoting green practices. Shopping malls are a great place to impart knowledge about environmental protection and the benefits of an eco-friendly lifestyle. Through information campaigns, educational events and practical examples, you can effectively raise awareness and encourage visitors to make more informed consumer decisions.

ESG, i.e. Environmental, Social, and Governance, is not only declarations regarding social and ecological responsibility, but finally specific and measurable actions. Increased pro-environmental activities can be noticed in various sectors of the economy, also in larger shopping facilities such as the Janki Shopping Center.

The facility uses a number of solutions and investments that ultimately contribute to reducing the carbon footprint, saving resources and educating the public.

The retail space has been designed in the #zerowaste spirit – the building offers various eco-devices, including: bicycle chargers, or solutions provided by Interzero – a bottle dispenser , a self-sorting bin and a solar bin . The center’s authorities also took care of the green areas around the building – insect houses and composters were used to maintain the biosystem.

As Interzero, we are very happy about initiatives that have a positive impact on our planet. We hope that other facilities of this type in our country will also work on ecological retail space.

You can read more about the sustainable solutions used in the Janki Shopping Center in the article at the link: HERE

Check what eco-devices can be useful in your commercial space!

Did you know that e-cigarettes may soon be banned?

According to a study conducted by the Institute of Economic Planning and Analysis (IPAG) on the sale of e-cigarettes, over 100 million disposable e-cigarettes were sold in Poland in 2023. At the same time, according to an article published in The Lancet, e-cigarettes pose an increasing challenge to our environment. The first problem is the generation of a significant amount of plastic, especially in the case of cartridges that are intended for single use and are made of hard-to-degrade plastics.

The second problem is electronic waste. Research conducted by the Material Focus organization has shown that in the UK alone, 1.3 million such devices end up in landfill every week, even though they should be sent to e-waste collection points. Improper disposal of batteries and other components may lead to fires and environmental pollution.

Nicotine is also a problem, not only because it is addictive, but also because it is considered hazardous waste in some countries. Therefore, plastic containers in which liquids and e-cigarette cartridges are stored cannot be recycled.

At the end of January, the British government announced its plan to ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes, which will have a positive effect not only on the environment, but also on the health of the entire society. Last week, the Polish Deputy Minister of Health also announced that the possibility of a complete ban on the sale of e-cigarettes is being considered.

Source: https://www.pap.pl/aktualnosci/e-cigarettey-najlepsze-szkodliwym-dla-srodowiska-produktem-jaki-cześni-powstal , https://next.gazeta.pl/next/7,151003, 30672748,there will be a total ban on the sale of e-cigarettes-resort-zdrowie.html .