Before the vote, President Piotr Roman mentioned that, thanks to changes in the regulations, officials would have access to data related to water consumption. He announced that next year it would be necessary to consider whether to change the method of determining the fee for municipal waste management. (Bolesławiec Municipal Commune—like the vast majority of communes in Poland—chose the per-person solution.)

– The possibilities for verifying the number of people living in a given property are very limited—the mayor pointed out. – The state does not support us in this in any way. It seems that we should give up trying to convince yet another prime minister and yet another minister.

He added that the municipal office would examine the issue closely next year. He also said he was convinced that the city authorities would create a fairer mechanism.

The resolution was adopted with 16 votes in favor; 4 councilors voted against and 1 abstained.

Let us recall. Last week, we reported that during the November session of the Bolesławiec City Council, the body would consider a draft resolution on selecting the method for determining the fee for municipal waste management and setting its rates in the Bolesławiec Municipal Commune. The document states, among other things:

The Bolesławiec City Council resolves as follows:

§ 1. The method for determining the fee for municipal waste management for properties inhabited by residents is selected; the fee shall be the product of the number of residents living in a given property and the rate specified in § 2(1).

§ 2. 1. The fee for municipal waste management for the property referred to in § 1 is set at PLN 40.00 for each person residing in the property.

2. The increased fee for municipal waste management for the property referred to in § 2(1) is set at PLN 160.00 for each person residing in the property if the owner of the property referred to in § 1 does not fulfill the obligation to collect municipal waste selectively.

Partial fee exemptions

The draft resolution also states:

§ 3. 1. Owners of properties inhabited by large families are exempt from part of the municipal waste management fee, in the amount calculated for the members of the large family referred to in the Act of December 5, 2014 on the Large Family Card (i.e., Journal of Laws of 2024, item 1512).

2. The exemption referred to in section 1 amounts to PLN 4.00 per resident per month.

3. The partial exemption referred to in section 1 applies from the month in which the property owner submits a declaration in this regard and demonstrates eligibility for the exemption.

§ 4. 1. Owners of properties developed with single-family residential buildings who compost biodegradable municipal waste in a household composter are partially exempt from the municipal waste management fee, proportionally to the reduction in the costs of managing household waste, i.e. in the amount of PLN 2.00 per month for each resident living in the property.

2. The exemption referred to in section 1 applies from the month in which a statement on composting biodegradable waste in a household composter located on the property is submitted.

Why are waste collection fees increasing?

The justification states:

(…) the commune covers the costs of operating the municipal waste management system, including the costs of collecting, transporting, gathering, recovering and disposing of municipal waste; creating and maintaining selective municipal waste collection points; administrative service for the system; and environmental education on proper waste management. From the fees collected, the commune also covers the costs of equipping properties with municipal waste containers; maintaining the containers in appropriate sanitary, orderly and technical condition; removing municipal waste from places not intended for its disposal and storage; disposing of all types of municipal waste; accepting waste at selective municipal waste collection points; and ensuring the acceptance of such waste

The need to increase the municipal waste management fee per resident results from the increase in the waste disposal fee, the increase in the price of managing individual waste fractions, the increase in the minimum wage, and increases in fuel and energy prices. In order to ensure the proper functioning of the waste management system and the performance of the commune’s duties set out in the Act on Maintaining Cleanliness and Order in Communes, the fee for municipal waste management was recalculated in light of the above.

Adjusting the rates to actual costs is justified. (All emphases are from the editorial office—editor’s note: istotne.pl.)

It was also added:

The City Council exercised the power provided for in Article 6k(4) of the Act on Maintaining Cleanliness and Order in Communes and introduced a partial exemption from the municipal waste management fee for owners of properties inhabited by large families as defined in the Act of December 5, 2014 on the Large Family Card (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 1512), thereby providing assistance to large families living in its area.

The new rates will apply from January 1, 2026.