Polish municipalities raise waste collection fees amid wide regional disparities

From 1 August 2026, the city of Olsztyn increased its waste‑collection charge from 11.70 zł to 13.90 zł per cubic metre of water used, translating to an estimated monthly cost of about 41.70 zł per resident. The city said the hike reflects rising costs of its waste‑management system and a need to improve recycling rates after a 5.5 % increase in total waste volume earlier in the year.

A separate analysis of gminas in Poland’s Świecie County shows a striking 66.7 % gap in basic waste‑collection fees. Residents of Świecie pay the lowest rate at 27 zł per person per month, while those in the gmina of Nowe face the highest at 45 zł. Other municipalities fall between these extremes, with rates ranging from 32 zł in Drzycim and Jeżewo to 43 zł in Dragacz. Differences stem from each gmina’s own infrastructure, tender prices, population density and service scope.