Poland

Have any regulations or guidelines already been implemented?

(a) Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textile waste: Poland has not yet introduced an EPR scheme for textile waste.

(b) Separate collection of textile waste: according to art. 14 of Act of 19 July 2019 amending Act on Maintaining Cleanliness and Order in Municipalities and Some Other Laws, the obligation to accept textile and clothing waste by points of municipal separate waste collection applies from 1 January 2025.

(c) Separate collection of packaging waste and EPR for packaging: as required by Directive 2008/98/EC Poland has set up separate collection for i.a. paper, metal, plastic, glass; Poland has not yet implemented an EPR scheme for packaging, as required by Directive (EU) 2018/852.

Is there any upcoming relevant legislation or guidelines? 

What is the timeline for implementation?

There is no forthcoming EPR scheme for textile waste.

Implementation of EPR for packaging: the draft Polish Act on amending the Act on Packaging and Packaging Waste Management is currently at the stage of consultations that are a part of the government’s legislative process. This means that the draft has not been yet submitted to the Parliament.

There is no timeline for implementation, apart from the deadline set forth by Directive (EU) 2018/851.

What are the general rules?

There is no forthcoming EPR scheme for textile waste.

Implementation of EPR for packaging (based on the draft bill):

- a producer has an obligation to meet recycling targets and pay packaging fees for household packaging waste;

- packaging waste management obligations, including recycling, imposed on producers can be fulfilled through producer responsibility organizations or by the producers themselves;

- a producer is obliged to provide the producer responsibility organization with all the necessary data to fulfil the obligation it has taken over from it;

- where obligations are fulfilled through a producer responsibility organization, the producer will have to conclude a contract with the organization;

- the fulfilment of obligations through producer responsibility organizations does not relieve the producer of responsibility for the fulfilment of these obligations;

- packaging fees for household packaging should be paid monthly. The rates of fees will be set by the minister responsible for climate matters.

What are the products involved?

N/A

What are the enforcement measures and sanctions in case of violation?

There are no enforcement measures and sanctions introduced for the producers of textile waste.
Implementation of EPR for packaging (based on the draft bill):

- if the packaging fee is not paid at all, or the payment is incomplete, the voivodship marshal (local government authority) will impose, by way of an administrative decision, an obligation to pay the packaging fee;

- failure to pay the fee within 14 days after the decision becomes final entitles the marshal to impose additional packaging fee equal to 50% of the amount of the unpaid packaging fee.

Which are the responsible authorities or bodies?

N/A