Recycling has never been easier than it is today. Packaging is labelled, the public is educated, but nevertheless we still make mistakes in segregation. What is the reason for this? The problem arises with rarer and mixed waste, such as construction and renovation waste. - We don't know where to throw away crushed concrete, tile scraps or polystyrene foam. Segregating waste can be easy - all it takes is a few educational tips - which is why today's post will tell you where to dispose of polystyrene foam.

In this article, we will answer your questions and prove that the disposal of polystyrene waste is simpler than it sounds!

• into which containers do you dispose of polystyrene waste?
• Where to dispose of polystyrene foam after white goods or consumer electronics?
• Is polystyrene foam recyclable?
• how to dispose of polystyrene foam?

That is, our guide in a nutshell to the amount of polystyrene waste!

Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene (EPS), is a lightweight material consisting of polystyrene granules. It has excellent insulating properties and is resistant to salt and alkalis. As a result, it is widely used in the construction industry and in the packaging of sensitive products. - cups, for example. The production process involves several steps - polystyrene is dissolved in suitable solvents and then a gas (usually pentane) is added, which causes the granules to expand into the familiar polystyrene beads. The finished material is formed into suitable shapes, cooled and then cut to size. Why is it important to dispose of polystyrene foam correctly? As you can see from the production process - it is not a biodegradable material, so inappropriate disposal of polystyrene foam can lead to serious contamination of soils and groundwater. The types of polystyrene foam are often described on the packaging to give the consumer a hint on how to deal with polystyrene waste.

The amount of construction waste after renovations can overwhelm even the most persistent. Many people contract companies such as Interzero disposal of construction waste -but where are the polystyrene pieces disposed of and what happens when they end up in the wrong container? The improper disposal of polystyrene foam can lead to a number of negative consequences for both people and the environment. Firstly - it is not a biodegradable material - polystyrene packaging takes up to 1000 years to decomposeIn the meantime, polystyrene contaminates the soil and water. What's more - animals often mistake polystyrene packaging for food, which leads to poisoning and death. In addition, the wrong choice of container makes it difficult to recycle polystyrene foam smoothly.

The Polish system of waste segregation is quite transparent so that waste disposal can be carried out smoothly. Most town hall websites provide information or have their own waste finder, allowing you to allocate the type of municipal waste to the correct bin. You can also use the website Our Garbagewhere you will find a search engine for the segregation rules in your municipality.

Packaging polystyrene is recycled provided it is clean. This group includes, for example, packaging from white goods, furniture and electronic devices. Clean polystyrene should be placed in yellow bags or bins for metals and plastics.. Discarded in this way, it will be recycled, allowing the material to return to circulation. Pure polystyrene packaging is recycled in a similar way to plastic and plastics.

Dirty polystyrene packaging (e.g. used takeaway food containers) is not recyclable. This type of waste should be disposed of in black bags or mixed waste bins. Why? Removing greasy stains or organic residues is costly and time-consuming, making polystyrene foam recycling uneconomic. This is the only proper disposal of soiled polystyrene.

Can you dispose of building polystyrene in mixed or plastic? Unfortunately not. Leftover polystyrene boards should be placed in special containers for construction waste. For larger quantities of such waste, it is worth considering using a company that deals with the professional disposal of building materials. Such companies offer transport, suitable containers and proven methods for processing polystyrene foam. This allows you to take care of the environment and comply with waste management regulations. However, if you are dealing with a small amount of building polystyrene, you can take care of the disposal yourself. You can take this waste to your local municipal waste collection point (PSZOK). It will be properly sorted and sent for further processing. This approach makes it easy to dispose of waste in accordance with the principles of segregation and environmental protection.

• Re-use if the polystyrene is properly cut and painted - an example would be façade polystyrene, which can be used as insulation in another building project or for decoration.
• Surrender directly to polystyrene foam recycling companies. In Poland, we have companies that have made it their goal to recycle this material.
• Upcycling - that is, instead of throwing away used polystyrene foam, we transform it into something new. Homemade decorations, and for the more creative, even furniture or architectural elements.

Before we decide to throw away packaging polystyrene, let's consider whether we can make use of it.

Appropriate waste management is closely linked to the carbon footprint that remains in the environment. All polystyrene balls, polystyrene plates or soiled polystyrene, remain in the ecosphere. The above alternative ways of disposing of polystyrene are just a few ideas. Municipal waste management has never been at such a high level before in history, but without a committed, informed public, it is impossible to make positive changes to the environment. This is why we encourage people to think about where the waste should be disposed of and whether it is OK - for ourselves - to throw away construction waste without giving it a second thought about its reuse. After all, each of us is responsible for the environment. Do you own larger quantities of polystyrene foam? We hope you already know what you can do with them!

Bio-waste was supposed to be a source of green fertiliser and clean energy, and its treatment was supposed to be a remedy for the increasing minimum recycling levels of municipal waste. However, reality has turned out to be far from expectations - the collection system for bio-waste is not fully effective and the potential of this fraction tends to go to waste in landfills.

Currently in Poland and throughout the EU only a small percentage of the biowaste generated is treated. This applies to both industrial and municipal waste. In a report by Zero Waste and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) Bio-waste generation in the EU: Current capture levels and future potential it was estimated that each Pole can potentially generate 247 kg of bio-waste. This sum consists of:

• 112 kg of food waste,
• 135 kg of green waste.

The calculation of the theoretical potential was based on a set of public reports and national data.

However, the data made available by the CSO shows that Only 52 kg are collected separately bio waste. Why the difference? Most likely it is due to improper segregation of biowaste - instead of going into the organic fraction, they end up in mixed waste.

According to the calculations of the report's authors, in Poland only selective collection is carried out:

• 9% food waste,
• 20% all bio-waste (food waste + green waste).

In contrast, the average for EU countries is 24.9% for food waste and 30% for the entire bio waste fraction.

As the authors of the report conclude:

The implementation of food waste collection strategies and practices will be one of the main factors in increasing the overall recycling rate of biowaste in the near future.

The cited report by Zero Waste and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) indicates that as much as 75% of the food waste generated in the EU remains unused. This results in the loss of valuable resources that could be processed into natural fertiliser and alternative fuel, as well as excessive methane emissions that occur at landfill sites. To counter waste, Polish entrepreneurs operating in the catering and non-catering sectors are required to enter into a contract for the collection and management of the food waste they produce. They can either conclude this contract with the municipal company or with a specialised waste collection company such as Interzero.

Cooperation with Interzero for the collection of food waste from companies and institutions is a guarantee for its proper management. The waste we collect catering waste is sent to specialised processing facilities - composting and biogas plants, where they undergo composting and fermentation processes. Professional collection of food waste is one of the best ways to make the idea of a closed loop economy a reality and to avoid the legal consequences that incorrect bio-waste management entails.

Manufactured in companies food waste can also be managed at sourceon site. To this end, Interzero offers a range of electric composters for industrial use. They make it possible to reduce the volume of waste by up to 90% and turn it into an excellent, nutrient-rich substrate (pre-compost) that can be used as a soil improver, biomass fuel or raw material for anaerobic digestion. The whole the process takes only 24 hours and is odour-free thanks to a deodorisation system.

Oklin's range of composters also includes a unit for home use. Oklin GG-02 compact electric composter can be set up in the kitchen or pantry, providing a more convenient and quicker alternative to composting kitchen waste in a traditional composter.

Household-generated bio-waste that is not managed at source has to be separately collected and then collected by municipalities. However, the collection systems currently in place are not perfect. In order to make it easier for municipalities to carry out the tasks of effective collection and subsequent management of bio-waste, the EIA-PIB has developed a Catalogue of good practice in the collection of biowaste, which presents examples of efficient biodegradable waste management systems in Poland and Europe.

According to a report by the European Environment Agency, bio-waste accounts for approx. 34% of the total municipal waste stream produced within the European Union. In Poland, this percentage was 37.4% in 2023. Given that already from 2025, municipalities will have to reach the 55% municipal waste recycling rate required by EU regulations, emphasis will have to be placed on the recycling of biowaste as the most abundant fraction. Is it possible? We talked about the pains and challenges of bio-waste management with Jan Kolbusz, Chief Technologist and President of Microbiotech in the Eko Bez Kantów podcast Clean energy and fertile soil. How to unlock the potential of biowaste?

Sources:

1. https://biconsortium.eu/publication/bio-waste-generation-eu-current-capture-levels-and-future-potential-0
2. https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/srodowisko-energia/srodowisko/ochrona-srodowiska-2024,1,25.html
3. https://magazynbiomasa.pl/bioodpady-komunalne-jaki-to-potencjal-sprawdz-koniecznie/

The beginning of the year also marks the start of the reporting period in which BDO-registered businesses with waste records must submit reports for 2024. Below, we have compiled the most important information and answers to the most common questions about BDO waste reports.

An annual report on waste generated and waste management must be submitted by 15 March for the previous calendar year. However, the deadline for BDO reports for 2024 is 17 March 2025. Why 17 and not 15 March? In 2025. 15 March falls on a Saturday, so by law the deadline for the BDO report is moved to the next working day, Monday 17 March.

This, of course, applies to entrepreneurs who are still in business. Entrepreneurs who close their business are obliged to submit a report within 7 days of closing.

The annual BDO report, known professionally as the annual report on waste generated and waste management, for 2024 is required to be submitted by all entities that:

• in 2024 were subject to the obligation to keep waste records in BDO (generated or managed waste),
• in 2024, as part of their operations, extracted waste from a landfill or waste heap on the basis of a waste extraction permit or a decision approving the instructions for operating a landfill during the post-operation phase.

We remind you that the obligation to submit an annual report also applies to entities keeping simplified records waste at BDO!

Don't have a BDO number? Check whether you are obliged to register with BDO!

Entities that did not generate or treat waste in 2024, are not required to submit a zero report.

Annual report on waste generated and waste management to be submitted to the Voivodship Marshal with jurisdiction over the place of production, collection or processing of waste. If you generate, process or collect waste in several provinces, you are obliged to submit reports to the marshals of all the provinces where you carry out these activities.

The report may be completed and submitted only electronicallyvia an individual account in the BDO system. Each entrepreneur can do this on their own or entrust their duty to Interzero experts, gaining a guarantee of efficient, reliable and timely preparation and subsequent submission of reports. Contact us and get the best offer to take over the BDO reporting obligation!

Depending on the operator's areas of activity, the annual report on waste generated and waste management for 2024 may include information on:

• masses and types of waste,
• how waste is managed (applicable to waste managers only),
• installations and equipment for the treatment of this waste, including technical data of the machinery and information on the functioning of the installations and facilities: number of operating hours per day, dates and times of breakdowns or stoppages (only applicable for waste treatment operators),
• amounts of sulphate or chloride in waste per Mg of titanium dioxide produced (applies to entities owning or treating waste from titanium dioxide production processes),
• the weight and types of food waste generated.

In principle, yes. If you have not submitted your BDO report by the deadline, you will you should do this immediatelywithout waiting for a possible inspection or summons from the authorities. This gives you the chance to avoid a severe financial penalty. In settling all reporting backlogs Interzero experts will help you. Contact us and outline your situation and we will help you identify all outstanding obligations and complete the necessary paperwork.

Remember that your company's reporting obligations are only time-barred after 5 years! This means that the authority can summon you to file a report even for up to 5 years back, and additionally impose on your company a fine of up to PLN 5,000.

Raw material recycling involves the thermal decomposition of waste, which can produce liquid hydrocarbons or gases that are ingredients for the production of new raw materials. It is used to process certain plastics (e.g. PET, polyethylene, polypropylene). This type of recycling is more energy intensive and more expensive than material recycling, but allows waste that is highly contaminated or heterogeneous to be recirculated (and therefore unsuitable for material recycling).

According to experts, chemical recycling should complement the mechanical recycling currently used to process approximately 80% of plastics. The managing director of the Plastics Europe Poland Foundation, Dr Anna Kozera-Szałkowska, sees it as an opportunity to return to circulation raw materials that can be used for food contact or medical applications[i].

[i] Zero recycling point in Poland, https://portalkomunalny.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/raport-punkt-zero-recyklingu-w-polsce.pdf

The chemical recycling process uses 2 basic reactions: breaking and forming new chemical bonds. This means that the plastic particle (polymer) is broken down into smaller particles (including monomers) from which new polymers can be made in the next stage. This produces plastics with identical properties to virgin plastics derived from crude oil.

The most important technologies used during the chemical recycling process are:

• pyrolysis - thermal decomposition proceeding without oxygen. The result is, among other things, pyrolytic oil, from which, after purification and specialised treatment, ethylene and propylene can be obtained, i.e. the monomers that are the basic raw materials for the production of polyethylene and polypropylene,
• Gasification - thermal decomposition occurring when oxygen is available. Almost all plastics can be processed using this process,
• Solvolysis - an exchange reaction between polymer and solvent molecules. It is mainly used for the processing of PET.

However, pyrolysis and gasification do not fall within the statutory definition of recycling - The materials obtained from these processes are sometimes used as fuel. Thus, 'only' energy recovery occurs, which cannot be considered recycling. Nevertheless, pyrolysis is a promising method that can produce polymers with properties identical to those of virgin polymers.

Chemical recycling is not currently used on a large scale. In the publication Plastics Europe[i] indicated that in 2023, only 0.12 million tonnes of plastics were produced in Europe through this process. However, many experts believe that this method should and must be popularisedespecially in the context of the continuing drive to increase plastic recycling levels. As Dr Anna Kozera-Szałkowska emphasises, the sanctioning of chemical recycling technology is also necessary in view of the forthcoming legal regulations concerning the increase in the recyclates content in consumer packaging[ii]..

At Interzero we understand these needs very well and we have long been taking steps to increase the scale of chemical recyclingand at the same time reduce the mass of raw materials going to thermal recycling, i.e. to waste incineration plants. To this end, we have developed a special process for sorting mixed plastics that were previously sent for incineration. In our method, the waste is not sorted into monomaterials, but into streams that are precisely tailored to the requirements of chemical recycling.

In 2023, together with OMV construction of the largest sorting plant for plastic waste has begunwhich will then be sent for chemical recycling. The new Interzero and OMV investment, which will be operational as early as 2026, will have a capacity of up to 260,000 mixed plastics per year.

Learn about all of Interzero's chemical recycling initiatives.

[i] Plastics Europe, Plastics - Facts 2024 in a nutshell, https://plasticseurope.org/pl/knowledge-hub/tworzywa-fakty-w-pigulce-2024/

[ii]. Zero recycling point in Poland, https://portalkomunalny.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/raport-punkt-zero-recyklingu-w-polsce.pdf

With the new year, a new regulation came into force (OJEU 2024, item 1644), in which 5 hazardous waste codes were removed from the list of waste codes exempted from record-keeping, including 2 strictly for the beauty industry. Unfortunately, the exemption that has been in force for the time being, which was readily used by entities generating small amounts of hazardous waste, will disappear. How to prepare for the new environmental obligations?

Registration with BDO is a change for tens of thousands of hairdressers, beauticians and other beauty industry service providers, who until now produced <200 kg/year of waste code 15 01 10*. The BDO system is the Database of Products and Packaging and Waste Management - that is, a system that allows the electronic fulfilment of registration, recording and reporting obligations in Poland. Not sure if your business also needs to register with BDO? Or maybe you don't want to deal with it and prefer to let specialists take over the matter? At BDO registration page for beauticians and hairdressers you'll find a form - you can contact experts from our company who will take over this duty. We act quickly because we've been doing it for years - and you gain valuable time that can be devoted to other areas of running your business. If you need more information about the BDO system, watch our free webinar on BDO.

Do you value your hard-earned money? That's another reason to see to the BDO entry. Let's start with the mildest penalty - that is, the one for failing to file a BDO report. If an entity obliged to prepare an annual report on waste generated and waste management does not submit this report, it is subject to a fine - from PLN 20 to PLN 5,000. The penalty for failure to make an entry in BDO, on the other hand, is between PLN 5 000 and PLN 1 000 000. However, these are not the only worries of entrepreneurs. The penalty for waste management not compliant with the information contained in the entry to the register is arrest or a fine - as is the penalty for submitting an application which is not in conformity with the facts. It is also a good idea to know what types of waste there are and which ones are generated by our enterprise. Mixing hazardous waste of different types or mixing hazardous waste with non-hazardous waste is punishable by an administrative fine of between PLN 5 000 and PLN 1 000 000.

This waste poses a particular threat to human and animal health and the environment. Disposal may only be carried out in dedicated facilities and under strict control. Code 15 01 10* is packaging containing residues of or contaminated by hazardous substances. Concrete examples? Paint cans, oxidisers, brighteners, acetone cans, cleaner cans, packaging containing high concentrations of acids and adhesives.

Are you looking for a company to guide your business through entry into BDO? Complete a simple form for beauty salons, hairdressers and the entire beauty industry - we will contact you!

On 1 January 2025, an amendment to the regulation of the Minister of Climate and Environment came into force, which significantly reduced the rates of the product fee for glass packaging collected under the deposit system. Under the new regulations, For each kilo of reusable glass bottles, introducers will pay:

• £0.01 (instead of £0.10) in 2025,
• £0.05 (instead of £1) in 2026,
• £0.25 (instead of £5) in 2027 and beyond.

Recall that the previous legislation provided for uniform rates for all types of packaging covered by the deposit system. So what is the reason for this change?

The amendment to the Regulation was intended to making rates more realistic product levy. As highlighted in the explanatory memorandum of the draft new regulation, the weight of a glass bottle is many times that of a PET bottle or can of identical capacity. Based on the data cited by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the weights of the half-litre containers covered by the deposit system are respectively:

• PET bottle - 13 g,
• beverage can - 14 g,
• glass bottle - 315 g.

This means that for every 1 kg of packaging:

• 77 PET bottles,
• 71 cans,
• just 3 glass bottles.

In line with the principle that litter the number of packages, not their weight, the product levy rates for glass packaging have been significantly reduced.

Learn about Interzero's comprehensive services for bail participants >>

The reduction of the product fee for glass packaging was dictated not only by economic issues, but also by environmental ones. The use of reusable packaging has a positive impact on the environment and brings us closer to making GOZ a reality. The use of returnable glass bottles reduces the scale of production of new bottles, thus reduces carbon emissions, electricity consumption and raw materials.

Maintaining the current uniform rates of the product fee for all of these types of packaging could cause introducers to move away from their use and replace 'expensive' reusable glass with much 'cheaper' single-use plastics. Abandoning reusable glass bottles, on the other hand, would be a a step backwards that would move us further away from the transition to a closed-loop economy.

See also:

• 9 month delay in bail system. What does this mean for the packaging industry?
• Sielaff bottle dispensers - the best machines for a bail system

Sources:

• Ordinance of the Minister of Climate and Environment of 24 December 2024 amending the Ordinance on the rates of product fees for individual types of packaging, https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20240001960/O/D20241960.pdf
• https://legislacja.rcl.gov.pl/projekt/12389300/katalog/13079739#13079739

Under the provisions of the amendment, from 1 January 2025. each municipality is obliged to organise separate collection of textile wastewhich include, among other things, used clothing and footwear, home textiles (bedding, curtains) and other fabric products. The minimum that municipalities must provide is the possibility of returning all textile waste to the local PSZOK.

At present, there are no top-down plans to introduce an additional sixth bin dedicated exclusively to textile waste or to oblige municipalities to collect this waste fraction from properties. However, municipalities are free to organise additional collection of textile wasteFor example, collecting it directly from households or setting up additional collection points. A similar solution has recently been trialled by the city of Częstochowa, which allows its residents to collect their textile waste free of charge by telephone appointment.

The introduction of an obligation of separate collection of textile waste results from the transposition into Polish law of the provisions of Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19.11.2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives. Article 11(1) of the Directive obliges all EU Member States to carry out separate collection of at least the following fractions: paper, metal, plastics, glass and textiles. The latter fraction has been compulsorily collected throughout the EU precisely since 1 January 2025.

Let us recall that The European Union continues to work on implementing legislation to increase the efficiency of textile waste collection and impose additional obligations on textile producers, called the extended producer responsibility regime. Under the ROP provisions, textile introducers are to be charged for the costs associated with the collection, segregation and recycling of the waste produced from them.

Selective collection of textile waste means new obligations not only for municipalities, but also for their residents. From the new year it is prohibited to dispose of textiles in the mixed waste bin. Penalties for non-compliance with the new rules or for incorrectly sorting waste can range from 200 to 400% of the basic waste collection fee. It should be noted that these penalties are not a one-off - if residents of the property continue to fail to comply with the statutory obligations, financial penalties may also be charged in subsequent months.

We are already familiar with the mechanism of such penalty fees - similar consequences will also be imposed on us for incorrect sorting of other waste fractions for which separate collection is mandatory (glass, metal and plastics, paper, bio waste). Why are we reminding you of this? Well, a survey we conducted in 2023 showed that only 62% Poles sort waste into all the required fractions, and even fewer, 43%, declare that they can do it correctly. More findings can be found in research report We are getting into trouble.

Contrary to what you might think, since January we have not been obliged to return all used textiles to the PSZOK. Used textiles in good condition can be donate to charities (e.g. PCK, Caritas, single mothers' homes, shelters for the homeless) or dispose of in the second-hand clothes container.

Alternative collection points for textiles are also offered by their manufacturers, giving consumers the opportunity to donate old clothes or shoes in their shops. In most cases, these can be products of any brand, which will then be recycled, upcycled or re-marketed in second-hand shops.

As representatives of the waste and recycling industry, we strongly encourage you to act in the spirit of our idea Together for a world without waste which implies not only the proper handling of textile waste, but also the prevention of its generation. How can this be done? Discover 5 ways to go green for fashion and a sustainable wardrobe.

The change that will affect all businesses on the BDO register is increase in annual and registration fee. It is dictated, among other things, by the increasing costs of maintaining, running and developing BDO.

From 2025, the BDO fee rates will be:

• 200 z for micro-entrepreneurs (increase from PLN 100),
• PLN 800 for other entrepreneurs (an increase from PLN 300).

As a reminder, the deadline for paying the annual fee for a calendar year is the end of February - so in 2025 it will be 28 February. The annual fee at the new amount must be paid by this date.

Read more about BDO fee increases in 2025.

From 2025, the introduced an obligation to keep records of all hazardous waste produced by entrepreneurs. This means that existing exemptions will disappearwhich were readily used by those generating small amounts of hazardous waste, including beauticians and hairdressers. Entrepreneurs running beauty and hairdressing salons can have their registration at BDO Interzero - fast, convenient and in 100% online.

Read more about the new responsibilities of the beauty industry in the article: Beauty and hairdressing salons required to register with BDO >>

The recording obligation will cover hazardous waste with the following codes:

• 3 02 08* Other engine, gear and lubricating oils,
• 15 01 10* Packaging containing residues of or contaminated by dangerous substances,
• ex 15 01 11* Metal packaging containing hazardous porous reinforcing components other than asbestos, including empty pressure containers,
• 16 02 13* Discarded equipment containing hazardous components other than those mentioned in 16 02 09 to 16 02 12,
• 16 06 03* Batteries containing mercury.

Do you generate such hazardous waste? Find out if you need to register your company with BDO in 2025!

From January 2025. the obligation to separate construction and demolition waste into 6 fractions will come into force. The most recent change, however, is the move away from the need to ensure that R & D waste is segregated at the point of generation -. the trader will be able to pass on the obligation to segregate them to another entity with the relevant permits and entries in the BDO, provided that the relevant contract is signed.

In the previous version of the legislation, the legislator obliged every generator of construction and demolition waste to segregate it at source. As a result of the amendments to the Waste Act, the possibility to segregate waste outside the place of its generation was introduced, but without relieving the entrepreneur of the responsibility for ensuring the implementation of this obligation.

Find out about the new rules for managing construction and demolition waste in 2025.

In 2025. it will not be possible to issue DPR and EDPR documents in the BDO system.. The introduction of the Confirmation Module, which was to allow the digital generation of these documents, has been postponed until 1 January 2027. From this date, businesses will gain the ability to electronically issue DPRs and EDPRs for packaging and products and certificates for electrical and electronic equipment and for batteries and accumulators.

In the period 2025-2026, the documents proving recycling will continue to be issued on paper.

From 2025. the limits on the disbursement of funds from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management for purposes related to the operation of the BDO will be raised. This is to ensure continued seamless access to BDO, as well as maintaining the current level of cyber security and funding the development of the system.

Furthermore, the proceeds from the registration and annual fees for BDO entry will be direct revenue for the NFEPD.

Only 8% stand-alone introducers achieved the minimum statutory recycling levels in 2022. - according to the IOŚ-PIB report Packaging and packaging waste management in Poland in 2022. During the same period, recovery organisations met or even exceeded annual recycling targets for all types of packaging waste.

Of the introducers who chose to ensure recycling of their generated packaging waste themselves, as many as 11 234 entities were obliged to achieve the required recycling rates, which in 2022 were:

• 30% for plastic waste,
• 51% for aluminium waste,
• 55% for ferrous metal waste,
• 66% for paper and cardboard waste,
• 62% for glass waste,
• 19% for waste wood,
• 59% for all the above types of packaging waste combined.

On the basis of data from the BDO register, EIA-PIB experts calculated that only 8% stand-alone introducers achieved these minimum levels of. The percentage of independent introducers who managed to meet the statutory minimum is shown in the chart below:

Source: Report Economy of packaging and packaging waste in Poland in 2022.

At the opposite end of the spectrum are recovery organisations that in 2022 met the statutory recycling targets for metal, glass, paper and cardboard packaging waste and exceeded the required recovery rate for plastic packaging waste[i].

Failure by an entrepreneur to achieve the statutory recycling levels for packaging waste results in the need to charge and pay a product fee, which is a kind of environmental tax. To avoid the obligation to pay the fee, the entrepreneur may transfer his recycling obligation to a recovery organisation packaging waste generated from the packaging and packaged products it introduces. This will ensure that the introducer pays only a fixed, low amount for the contract with the recovery organisation and does not have to worry about ensuring waste recycling.

Calculate how much you can save on the product levy >>

Interzero takes over the recycling obligations of businesses in terms of:

• packaging waste,
• batteries and accumulators,
• post-consumer products: tyres, oils and greases,
• electrical and electronic equipment.

As a result, each the entrepreneur can comprehensively delegate all his/her responsibilities to us resulting from the marketing of packaging and products. Find out what obligations your company is subject to!

By signing a single contract, you will be sure to meet your company's obligations to ensure statutory levels of recovery, recycling and preparation for re-use.

[1]Packaging and packaging waste management in Poland in 2022, https://ios.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/gospodarka-opakowaniami-i-odpadami-opakowaniowymi-w-polsce-w-2022-r-2.pdf

Approximately 4.5 million tonnes of food are wasted in Poland each year, and as much as 60% of this is wasted in households. Why? The most common reasons declared by respondents for throwing food away are:

• expiry date - 60%,
• shopping too much - 26%,
• improper storage - 26%,
• purchase of unpalatable products - 25%,
• purchase of poor quality products - 17%,
• excessive meal portions - 18%,
• no idea how to use the products - 10%[i].

The amount of food thrown away increases dramatically over the Christmas and New Year period. It is estimated that as many as 83% people throw away food during this time. The 24th of December has even been unofficially dubbed Christmas Food Waste Day - in Poland alone, as much as 9,200 tonnes of food ends up in bins on that day[ii].! Can this be remedied?

For environmental reasons, we encourage, above all, moderation, which is one of the most important components of the our recipe for Christmas peace. We assume, however, that since you have arrived here, you have just you are struggling to manage your food after Christmas and you are looking for the best solution for you and nature.

The remedy for most of these problems is foodsharing. The movement encourages donating surplus food to people who are happy to accept it and literally save it from going to waste. There is only one condition - the food must still be fit for consumption.

One way to do festive foodsharing is to use food pantries, also known as community fridges. Dining halls are communal fridges, cupboards and sometimes small rooms that allow food to be exchanged. Not only can you leave fresh produce or dishes in them, but you can also take what others have left on the shelves.

What to donate to the eatery? Only food that we would eat ourselves. Importantly, it may be past its best-before date - dry and loose products, tinned foods, condiments and sometimes even properly stored dairy products are often fit for consumption after the date indicated on the packaging. Donating food to an eatery However, it is worth following a few rules:

• products should be placed in clean packaging and sealed tightly,
• a note should be placed on the home-cooked dishes with their composition and date of preparation,
• products can be left previously opened, but the date of opening should be indicated (mainly for food that spoils quickly),
• if a dish needs to be stored at a low temperature, it absolutely must be placed in the fridge!

Against the odds, Eateries are not the domain of large cities - you'll find them in small towns too!

See the nationwide map of eateries

Go to the map of eateries in Warsaw

Don't see your location here? Try searching for it on an online search engine, for example - the network of eateries is constantly expanding, so there may be outlets in your area that are not yet marked on the map.

Eateries aren't the only places you can donate food to after Christmas (and not just after Christmas). See where else you can share your food!

• Food Banks

These are charitable institutions that accept any type of food and then distribute it to those in need. All food products (including non-perishable products, e.g. bread, dairy products, meat, fruit and vegetables) can be donated to such a bank at least 2 days before the expiry date. There are 31 such banks in Poland. View map of Food Banks.

• Facebook groups and local forums

Food sharing is also enabled by social media and local groups, which you will find under names such as:

• Online dining, foodsharing, freeganism,
• I will donate, attention, the rubbish truck is coming (or simply: rubbish truck),
• we do not waste food.

• Branches of Caritas Polska

Caritas has long been active in helping those in need while at the same time tackling food waste. Local Caritas branches often accept unwanted food that is left over in the fridge after Christmas or an event, for example. It is worth contacting your nearest Caritas branch and donating the food to them, which will then be distributed to those in need.

• Facilities for people in crisis of homelessness

Surplus food from the holidays is also readily accepted by night shelters and shelters for people in crisis of homelessness. You can find a list of all such establishments by voivodeship on the website of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Labour and Social Policy.

Sometimes food has to be thrown away - it's spoiled, over-salted, burnt, there can be many reasons. However, it is worth doing this with your head. Properly sorted waste from the table, fridge or kitchen cupboard can still be recycled organically, i.e. composted or fermentation.

Where to throw food away? Most food is disposed of in the brown bin for bio-waste. This is where unwanted, spoiled or out-of-date food should go, but with some exceptions. Leftover meat, sausages and bones are mixed wasteas are eggs, cheese and other animal products. Mixed meals containing animal products, e.g. salads or sauces, are also not bio-waste. Check what we throw away and what we don't throw away in bio-waste.

An alternative to the bio-waste bag is the composter: domestic, kitchen or electric. It allows you to turn bio-waste into natural and completely free plant fertiliser, which can be produced in as little as 24 hours! Such opportunities include Oklin composter from the Smart range.

[i] Zero recycling point in Poland, https://portalkomunalny.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/raport-punkt-zero-recyklingu-w-polsce.pdf

[ii]. Christmas, festivities and... into the bin. We throw away 1.6 kg of Christmas food per person, https://www.rp.pl/przemysl-spozywczy/art41538111-swieta-swieta-i-do-kosza-wyrzucamy-1-6-kg-swiatecznego-jedzenia-na-osobe