Poland proposes new packaging and waste legislation

A new draft bill regarding packaging and packaging waste in Poland aims to introduce the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This regulation would shift the costs of waste management—including collection, transport, and recycling—directly onto companies that introduce products in packaging to the market.

Under the proposed system, producers would pay a packaging fee to the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. These funds would then be redistributed to local municipalities to support selective waste collection and transport. The bill includes an eco-modulation mechanism, where companies designing lightweight, easily recyclable packaging would pay lower rates, while those using less environmentally friendly materials would face higher costs.

While local governments support the measure as a way to secure funding for municipal waste systems, industry representatives have raised concerns. Business groups warn that the legislation could create a state monopoly, disrupt existing supply chains between collectors and recyclers, and increase operational costs, which may ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers.