Poland probes massive illegal hazardous waste dumps near Bełchatów power plant and Wołomin

Police, prosecutors and environmental experts have revisited a huge illegal hazardous‑waste site in Rogowice, a village adjacent to the Bełchatów Power Plant. Investigators say the dump holds about 50,000 tonnes of dangerous chemicals, posing fire and leakage risks to the plant and nearby residents. Since 2019, 152 people have been charged in a nationwide crackdown that has seized assets worth roughly 23 million zł and covered 56 locations across the country.

A separate illegal dump in Wołomin, near Warsaw, contains thousands of barrels of toxic substances. Recent inspections by the regional environmental protection agency found critical container conditions, leaks into the soil, the Czarna River and groundwater, and a heightened fire hazard. Local authorities have asked for 20 million zł from the state budget to secure the site, while the area remains under constant watch by the State Fire Service and environmental inspectors. The case has stalled in court, and the main suspect, Mariusz K., is reportedly evading police.

Both incidents highlight ongoing challenges in Poland’s fight against illegal waste storage and the associated public‑health and environmental threats.