1 Introduction and organic waste situation

Introduction and municipal wastes situation in Poland

The total surface of the country is 312685 km2. Agricultural lands occupy almost 59 percent of total area of the country. The total polish population (as of 31 XII 2000) is 38,7 million and according to demographic prognosis will not be changing significantly in the next 10 years. Almost 62 percent of total population (23.9 million people) live in urban areas.

According to Central Statistical Office 94 % of urban population is linked to system of waste collection. Selective waste collection is technically close to EU standards, however is not common. In 2000 thirty percent of all communities was managing selective collection with four paths: paper, metal, glass and plastic wastes. It let to recycle 0.15 million tons of those wastes (1.2 % of total amount of municipal wastes). There are 52 sorting plants in Poland.

The total amount of municipal wastes produced in Poland in 2000 was 13.5 million tons, including 10.16 million tons from urban areas. It gives the amount of 350 kg per statistical person a year. Sixty percent of all wastes was produced in households.
Ninety seven percent of total municipal wastes collected in 2000 was land-filled. The other 3 % was composted or incinerated. There is just one incineration plant in Poland.
The total number of composting plants that produce compost from degradable municipal wastes is 54. They use various technologies from simple pile methods to dynamic composting in reactors. The composting plants recycle 0.25 million tons of wastes which is 2% of total amount of all wastes produced a year but 10% of biodegradable wastes.
Biodegradable household wastes were a significant part of total amount of municipal wastes - 2.49 million tons including 2.16 million tons from urban communities.
Furthermore, 0.3 million tons of green-wastes and 2.07 million tons of paper waste including both packaging and non-packaging paper were produced in 2000.
Municipal sewage sludges are mainly landfilled (42 %). From total amount (360 thousand tons) of municipal sewage sludge produced in Poland in 2000, 14 % was utilized in agriculture. Further 7 % of sludge was composted.

Future perspectives

According to prognosis the total amount of municipal wastes would be in 2010 approx. 30% higher than presently, however production of biodegradable wastes should not increase significantly.

According to current policy, one of main objectives for close future is to develop and improve the effectiveness of selective collection of municipal wastes. Biodegradable wastes are that of especial importance. The systems of waste separation for recycling and neutralizing of biodegradable wastes will be developed to meet EU standards. The policy of Polish Ministry of Environment is intended to increase the number of local composting plants. Development of anaerobic digestion of biodegradable wastes is expected as well as mechanical - biological pretreatment of municipal wastes. The amount of biodegradable wastes land-filled each year must be in 2010 reduced to 75% of the amount produced in 1995 (about 4.4 mln tons). Thermal utilization of municipal wastes will be a solution especially for large agglomerations.

Legal aspects of organic waste management and compost use

The national law defines wastes and their types. Legal aspects of waste management, transfer and transport with responsibilities of waste holders are specified. Charges for waste holders depend on waste type. Waste producer is first prompted to recycle wastes if possible or to utilize them safely to environment.

Regulations on composts use are specified by decrees of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. It is allowed to produce compost from municipal wastes, however composts for sale as organic fertilizers must have ministerial approval based on chemical analyses, sanitary tests and assessment of its usefulness and environmental safety. Limit values for trace elements (zinc, chromium, cadmium, copper, nickel, lead, mercury) concentrations in organic fertilizers are specified. Sanitary test include presence of parasites and Salmonella bacteria.

Sewage sludge might be applied to soil for agricultural purposes at amount of 10 t dry matter /hectare during 5 years if meets all requirements specified in the order Ministry of Environment (on municipal sewage sludge use; 1.08.2002) - metals concentration limits, sanitary tests. The amount of sludge applied for soil reclamation purposes might be greater.
Soil might be amended with sludge if metal concentrations do not exceed limit values and soil pH is not lower than 5.6.

Information source:

National Plan of Waste Management. 2002. Polish Ministry of Environment.
Statistical yearbook of Poland. 2001. Central Statistical Office. Warsaw
The National Law on Fertilizers and Fertilization. 26.07.2000. Dz. U. Nr 89, poz. 991.
The National Law on Wastes. 27.04.2001. Dz. U. 2001.62.628
The order of Ministry of Environment on municipal sewage sludge use. 1.08.2002. Dz. U. Nr 134, poz. 1140)
The order of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on execution of fertilizer law. 1. 06.2001.

Contact:

Grzegorz Siebielec
Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation
Czartoryskich 8, 24 - 100 Pulawy, Poland

Tel. 48-81 886 34 21 ext. 320
Fax: 48-81 886 45 47

Email: gs@iung.pulawy.pl