Polish municipalities increase waste management fees

Municipalities in Poland are implementing increases in waste management fees to address rising operational costs and system deficits.

In the Turek municipality, councilors unanimously approved a new rate effective January 1, 2027. The fee will be 28 PLN per person monthly. Residents who fail to practice selective waste collection will face a higher rate of 56 PLN per person. Discounts remain available for large families and homeowners who compost organic waste. Despite the increase, officials noted a projected monthly deficit of approximately 50,000 PLN, as total costs are expected to reach 314,000 PLN against 264,000 PLN in revenue.

In Słupsk, councilors approved a nearly 30 percent increase in basic waste collection fees, rising from 31 PLN to 40 PLN per person starting January 1, 2027. Homeowners who compost organic waste will pay 37 PLN per person. A significant penalty of 160 PLN per person is set for those failing to segregate waste. The city cited rising disposal costs and the impact of the deposit return system, which is expected to reduce revenue by approximately 1.2 million PLN as valuable materials like PET bottles and aluminum cans are diverted from the municipal waste stream.