Poland waste industry seeks changes to EPR packaging bill

Waste industry representatives are calling for amendments to the UC100 draft bill regarding packaging and packaging waste to ensure a more transparent and market-based Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system. Industry leaders from the Chamber of Municipal Industry suggest a ‘Fair EPR’ model to prevent excessive centralization and ensure that costs paid by producers actually lead to lower waste management fees for residents.

Critics of the current draft argue that too much authority is concentrated in the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW). They propose that the Fund should focus on oversight and accounting rather than managing the system or deciding on the distribution of funds. The industry advocates for a system based on market competition between producer responsibility organizations.

Legislative progress is also a concern, as there are only 13 months remaining in the current parliamentary term. Legal experts warn that if the bill does not complete the entire legislative process—including the Sejm, Senate, and presidential approval—before the term ends, the work may be lost due to the principle of discontinuity. The current government plan aims for the Council of Ministers to adopt the project in the third quarter of 2026.