High Fines for Improper Recycling. Who Will Pay Them?

Poland is the last country in the European Union that has not implemented an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system. As a result, the costs of packaging waste management are borne mainly by residents, and municipalities are responsible for the organization. Many municipalities may not achieve the legally required recycling levels, which may result in penalties. The introduction of a deposit system without prior implementation of EPR may deepen these problems.

The costs of waste collection and management borne by residents amount to PLN 200 million per year for a city of half a million. The ROP system aims to change this situation by transferring financial responsibility to producers. Currently, the lack of this system means that the Polish waste management system lacks PLN 5 billion in packaging fees, which in effect increases the costs borne by residents.

The packaging fee should fully cover the actual costs of waste management, which could reduce costs borne by residents. In the new model, consumers will pay for waste management when purchasing products, which could also increase their environmental awareness.

According to the 2023 Buying Green Report, 82% of consumers in Europe and the Americas are willing to pay more for products in sustainable packaging, and 63% avoid products in packaging that is harmful to the environment. The implementation of EPR is urgently needed before the introduction of the deposit system planned for January 1, 2025.

Experts from the Union of Polish Metropolises emphasize that although the deposit system will improve selective waste collection, it will not fulfill its role without the EPR. Separating these two regulations is considered a serious mistake. The EU regulation requires a deposit system from 2029, so Poland has time to improve the quality of selective waste collection. The introduction of the EPR would increase the amount of packaging suitable for recycling, making it easier to segregate them in homes.

Currently, Polish municipalities recycle about 27% of municipal waste, which is insufficient compared to the EU requirements: 55% by 2025 and 65% by 2035. Failure to achieve these levels means high fines, which municipalities must cover from their own budgets. For a city of half a million, a one percent shortfall to the required recycling level means a cost of PLN 700,000. It is necessary to tighten the system so that municipalities bear the lowest possible costs for not achieving recycling levels.