# Polish municipalities combat illegal waste dumping

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/polish-municipalities-combat-illegal-waste-dumping
> Updated: 2026-08-28T09:35:36.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

Municipalities in Poland are increasingly utilizing photo traps to combat illegal waste dumping. In Kościerzyna, authorities purchased these devices to monitor the disposal of large items like furniture and electronics, with Mayor Dawid Jareczek noting that offenders could face fines of up to 5,000 PLN to ensure fairness for residents who follow proper segregation rules.

In Bytom, mobile phototraps were successfully used by the Municipal Guard to identify a driver dumping construction waste. The perpetrator was fined 4,000 PLN and ordered to clear the site. Under Polish waste regulations, property owners are often held responsible for removal costs unless they can identify the perpetrator, and improper waste disposal in communal bins can lead to management fees increasing up to four times the standard rate.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-28: Bytom authorities fine driver for illegal waste dumping

Authorities in Bytom used phototraps to fine a driver for illegal construction waste dumping, highlighting strict Polish laws that hold property owners liable for waste found on their land.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bytom-authorities-fine-driver-for-illegal-waste-dumping

### 2026-08-27: Kościerzyna to use photo traps to penalize illegal waste dumping

Kościerzyna authorities are installing photo traps to catch individuals illegally dumping large waste items, with potential fines reaching 5,000 PLN to prevent rising costs for law-abiding residents.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kocierzyna-to-use-photo-traps-to-penalize-illegal-waste-dumping

---
Cite as: Polish municipalities combat illegal waste dumping. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/polish-municipalities-combat-illegal-waste-dumping