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Are you wondering how to efficiently manage waste in your company? Do you want to comply with environmental regulations? Learn about the process of obtaining permits and how r2eko can assist you.
What is waste management?
Waste management involves activities such as collecting, transporting, and processing waste, including sorting and overseeing these processes.
These activities also encompass the management of waste disposal sites (e.g., incinerators) and actions performed as a waste seller or intermediary in the waste trade.
Waste generation and management
Waste management is a concept that also encompasses the processes of waste generation and their handling. Companies involved in waste management must fulfill a range of obligations, including organizing the storage of waste in accordance with regulations.
Waste storage
Detailed requirements regarding waste storage by the producer and temporary storage by the waste collector are described in the regulation of the Minister of Climate dated September 11, 2020, concerning specific requirements for waste storage.
The regulation specifies detailed requirements, including the initial storage of waste by the waste producer, temporary storage of waste by the collector, and processing of waste. Additionally, it defines the storage period for infectious medical and veterinary waste.
Waste management – Regulations
Waste management is regulated by laws such as the Waste Act, the Environmental Protection Law, and a series of implementing regulations.
For waste characteristic of specific industries, there are separate regulations, such as:
- the Act on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment,
- the Act on Extractive Waste,
- the Act on Recycling of End-of-Life Vehicles,
- the Act on Municipal Waste Management,
- the Act on International Movement of Waste, and in executive acts related to these laws.
Who needs a permit or authorization for waste management?
Many companies operating in various sectors of the economy must have a permit for waste management. This includes companies such as:
- collecting waste from other entities or from their own branches,
- processing waste through recovery or recycling processes of collecting and processing waste,
- generating waste involving collection or processing,
- generating more than 1 ton of hazardous waste,
- generating more than 5000 tons of other waste per year.
Some entities are exempt from the obligation to have a permit, including:
- entities engaged in activities other than economic activities in the field of waste management, which collect packaging waste and waste in the form of used consumer products, including the collection of medicines and packaging by pharmacies, accepting used consumer products in stores, waste collection systems in schools, educational institutions, offices, and institutions,
- landowners on whose land municipal sewage sludge is applied,
- waste holders engaged in waste disposal through storage in underground landfills,
- waste producers who dispose of their own waste, which is not hazardous waste, at the place of its generation,
- property owners where the collection of municipal waste generated on the property takes place (e.g., in households),
- points for selective collection of municipal waste run independently by the municipality or jointly with another municipality, or municipalities, or by a metropolitan union directly through the office serving the mayor, mayor, or city president, municipal budgetary unit, or municipal budgetary institution, or the office serving the metropolitan union.
We will help your company obtain a waste management permit
At r2eko, we offer comprehensive support at every stage of the waste management permit acquisition process:
- Advisory and analysis of the entrepreneur’s situation.
- We prepare comprehensive documentation necessary for the issuance of the permit decision.
- We represent your company in dealings with authorities at various levels – from municipalities to Marshal’s Offices. We oversee the process of reviewing applications.
- We closely monitor changes in regulations and provide information about necessary adjustments to existing permits.
- We provide advice on organizing waste storage locations, conducting selective waste collection, optimal placement of containers, bins, bags, and other waste packaging.
- We advise on how to proceed to ensure waste management complies with current regulations and recommend actions to avoid consequences related to improper waste management.
- We provide advice on organizing municipal waste management.
Why are waste management permits important?
Waste management is closely linked to environmental protection and public health. Therefore, the law meticulously regulates the responsibilities of entrepreneurs in this area.
Failure to comply with obligations imposed by applicable regulations, including not having the necessary permits or not adhering to their provisions, carries the risk of fines imposed by the environmental protection inspection, ranging from PLN 1,000 to PLN 1,000,000.
Steps to obtain a waste management permit:
- Inventory and classification of waste in the company.
- Selection of the appropriate type of permit or authorization – whether it’s a permit for waste generation, authorization for waste collection, authorization for waste processing, or a decision containing information on two or three types of waste management activities.
- Collection of necessary data for submitting the application.
- Completion and submission of the application.
- Monitoring the progress of the administrative proceedings for the issuance of the permit or authorization.
- Implementation of internal rules and procedures in the facility to align the company’s operations with the obligations outlined in the obtained permit or authorization – to ensure compliance with its provisions.
Obtain a permit with r2eko
Thanks to our experience and knowledge, we guarantee efficient operation, contributing to the reduction of the time needed to obtain a permit or authorization. The entire process of the administrative proceedings is continuously monitored by us.
We ensure constant communication with the offices processing the submitted applications and gather information about the stages of the ongoing case. We are open to various forms of collaboration and any type of business activity.
At r2eko, we understand the specificity of your company and provide comprehensive support at every step of the process of obtaining a waste management permit. Contact us to find out how we can assist your business.
