As reported by the Bolesławiec Municipal Police, last month, during cyclical inspections of “waste declarations,” municipal officers uncovered 70 people not covered by waste collection fees—a discrepancy was found between the actual situation and the number of declared residents.” Officers: “Unfortunately, in all cases, the number of people actually living in the premises was higher than declared; consequently, the fees paid by the owner were understated.”

Municipal officers paid particular attention to one property in Bolesławiec, where small waste containers were located, surrounded by considerable quantities of rubbish in bags. The police:

During the inspection, it turned out that 23 people lived in the house in question, while its owner had declared that only 4 people lived there. Thus, he paid the Bolesławiec City Office for only 4 people instead of 23. After the municipal officers’ inspection, the property owner corrected the submitted declaration concerning the amount of the fee for municipal waste management, in accordance with the actual situation.

It added:

During intensified inspections in this area conducted at the turn of June and July, officers of the Bolesławiec Municipal Police uncovered many similar situations across Bolesławiec, involving discrepancies between the number of people actually living at a property and the number stated in the submitted declaration. Ultimately, 70 people not registered in the waste management system were identified.

The Bolesławiec Municipal Police reminds residents:

(…) the property owner is required to submit the first declaration concerning the amount of the municipal waste management fee within 14 days of the date on which the first resident moves into the property or municipal waste is generated there. If the number of people changes—for example, if the number of residents of the premises increases—which forms the basis for determining the amount of the fee due, a new declaration must be submitted by the 10th day of the month following the month in which the change occurred; the fee at the changed amount must be paid for the month in which the change occurred.

This obligation arises from Article 6m, sections 1 and 2, of the Act of 13 September 1996 on Maintaining Cleanliness and Order in Municipalities (consolidated text: Journal of Laws of 2024, item 399).

Failure to fulfill the obligations described above constitutes an offense for which a municipal officer may impose a fine of up to PLN 500 or submit a motion to the court for punishment.

Article 10, section 2b, of the Act of 13 September 1996 on Maintaining Cleanliness and Order in Municipalities states: “Anyone who, contrary to the obligation specified in Article 6m, sections 1 and 2, fails to submit a declaration concerning the amount of the municipal waste management fee is subject to a fine.”

The regulations authorize municipal officers to inspect whether the data contained in the declaration regarding the number of declared residents corresponds to the actual situation. It is worth emphasizing that a municipal officer performs official duties exclusively in uniform and always carries an official identity card. Inspections by municipal officers will continue.

And concluded:

We appeal to residents of Bolesławiec to verify their submitted declarations and correct them so that they reflect the actual situation, which will protect the property owner from receiving a fine.