Do you smoke leaves in the garden? You can lose a fortune

Burning leaves and branches can cost a lot. The breaking of regulations is threatened by fines, fines and criminal liability.

Autumn is a time of cleaning in gardens and on plots, and thus – an annual dilemma related to green waste. Firing leaves and branches certainly tempts, but it can cost a lot.

The regulations clearly indicate that it is in principle prohibited. Breaking these regulations may result in fines, fines, and in extreme cases even criminal liability.

Green waste burning regulations

These issues are regulated by the Waste Act. The regulations show that in our own garden we can only smoke leaves that are not covered by the obligation of selective collection. In practice, this means almost a total ban on burning leaves, because almost all municipalities organized a selective biomass reception program.

What are the penalties for smoking leaves?

Failure to comply with the ban on smoking leaves and other green waste can lead to serious consequences.

Pursuant to the content of the code of offenses, “who contaminates or clutters the railway area or space available to the public, in particular the road, street, square, garden, lawn or greenery, is subject to a fine of not lower than PLN 500.”

The violation of the provisions is threatened with:

fine of up to PLN 500,
a fine of up to PLN 5,000,
In the case of a fire or health risk – a penalty or imprisonment.

How to legally get rid of leaves and branches?

Composting is the safest and lawful way. Your own composter allows you to turn the leaves and branches into a natural fertilizer that fertilizes the soil and can be used in the garden.

For larger amounts of waste, the best solution is to use selective municipal waste collection points (PSZOK) or seasonal collections organized by municipalities. Residents receive special bags or can issue waste on certain dates, and municipal services receive it without additional fees. Thanks to these methods, you can get rid of leaves and branches in a legal and safe way, avoiding severe penalties.

What do we include in green waste?

Green waste are parts of plants from garden care, plots, parks and cemeteries, as well as marketplaces, excluding waste from cleaning streets and parks. In practice, this applies to most home gardens and plots. Green waste includes, among others: