Key Challenges facing the sector
The conference programme included a range of topical issues relevant to the operation of waste management systems. In particular, participants discussed ways of achieving mandatory recycling targets, the impact of introducing a deposit-refund system on the fees payable by residents, the organization of tenders, and opportunities to optimize the operation costs of municipal systems. Municipalities’ preparations for the introduction of extended producer responsibility (EPR), as well as measures to improve the integrity and enhance the effectiveness of monitoring municipal waste management systems, were also a key focus of discussion.
The panel dedicated to the deposit-refund system and the practical preparations for implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) attracted particular interest among participants. The discussions highlighted just how important cooperation is between local authorities, businesses and the institutions responsible for shaping waste policy in Poland.
One of the highlights of the conference programme was the presentation by our speaker Jakub Złotosia, who spoke on the topic ‘Plastic sorting in the context of the deposit-refund system’. The presentation focused on the risks and challenges that the introduction of a deposit-refund system poses for waste management. Discussions centred on the impact on rising operating costs for facilities, the difficulties in achieving the prescribed recycling rates, and the consequences for local authorities and municipal companies.
