Questions and Answers

A Municipal Waste Separate Collection Point is a specially organised place in the municipality (city) where residents can bring or take away segregated municipal waste.

Any substance or object which the holder disposes of, intends to dispose of or is obliged to dispose of. Colloquially (and only colloquially!) it is any rubbish that we want to throw away.

Municipalities are obliged to organise a system for collecting municipal waste from property owners.

This is biodegradable waste from gardens and parks, food and kitchen waste from households, catering, restaurants, etc., shops, wholesalers, and similar waste from establishments producing or marketing food.

This is waste that, due to its origin, chemical composition, biological composition, other properties and circumstances, poses a threat to human life or health or to the environment. In practice, hazardous waste includes batteries, paints, medicines, oils, solvents, fluorescent tubes, inks, adhesives, among others.

Recycling is the process of converting waste into products, materials or substances that are used for their original purpose or for other purposes. Example? We can recycle old bottles into new bottles, hangers or even into... fleece sweatshirts.

Waste management is the collection, transport and treatment of waste , including sorting. It is also the supervision of these activities and the operation and control of waste disposal sites.

The rules for waste separation vary from region to region. It is worth looking at the regulations for maintaining cleanliness and order in your municipality (city) to find out exactly how to deal with waste correctly.

This is an international campaign taking place all over the world on the third weekend of September. This is when schoolchildren, kindergarten children, groups of citizens and other volunteers collect waste in all the places where it should not be: in parks, forests, near lakes and rivers, on roadsides, etc. The main aim of the campaign is to raise environmental awareness - not only among young people.

These are specific types of municipal waste which, due to their origin, chemical composition and other properties, pose a risk to the environment. Examples of problem waste: used electronic equipment, bulky waste (wardrobes, desks, beds, mattresses, carpets, rugs), or used tyres.

The waste collection schedule is available on the website of your municipality (city). If you do not know the web address, type it into your browser: waste collection schedule NAME OF SITE.

Such waste can be handed over to a pharmacy with a suitable container or to a PSZOK in your municipality (town).

Batteries are hazardous waste that can be returned to the PSZOK or taken to a shop that organises their collection.

According to the 2022 figures, each of us statistically produces 355 kg of municipal waste per year.

Glass waste takes by far the longest to decompose. The good news is that glass can be recycled into new products an unlimited number of times. We therefore encourage you to separate your waste correctly.

Packaging should not be washed unless specifically recommended by the municipality (city). However, the packaging should be emptied. Please note that washing packaging results in increased water consumption.

It is best to dispose of waste directly in the container. Do not use plastic bags. The only bags in which we can dispose of bio waste are compostable bags.

If your Christmas tree is alive and in a pot, plant it in your garden or give it to someone who could use a garden. On the other hand, if the condition of your Christmas tree does not allow you to continue using it, there are several ways to dispose of it. Strip it of its roots and put it out on the bio-waste collection day or take it to your local recycling centre. Artificial Christmas trees can be disposed of in the mixed waste (if their size allows it) or taken to your local recycling centre.

Christmas baubles, chains, Christmas tree decorations are disposed of in mixed waste. In contrast, give Christmas lights to the PSZOK or to a collection point for such waste.

Paragons are made of thermal paper and therefore should not be disposed of in the blue waste paper bin, but in the black one for mixed waste.

Don't be fooled - milk/juice cartons are not made entirely from recycled paper. It is worth remembering that there is a film on the inside and outside of the carton to protect the packaging from leakage and to ensure the freshness of the product. In addition, the opening is plastic. Therefore, such a carton should be disposed of in the yellow bin for metals and plastics.

Waste tyres should NOT be disposed of in rubbish bins. You can return them free of charge to the municipal waste collection point in your municipality (before returning them, it is a good idea to contact the PSZOK to ask how many tyres you can return per year) or leave them at a tyre workshop, if you know one that accepts them.

No matter what material they are made of, clothes can be disposed of in mixed waste or taken to the PSZOK. However, we encourage you to give clothes that are still usable to people who will find them useful.

Styrofoam is divided into packaging and construction foam. Clean polystyrene packaging can be disposed of in the yellow bin for metals and plastics. Dirty packaging is disposed of in the black bin for mixed waste. Styrofoam for construction waste can be disposed of at a company that professionally collects construction waste or at a PSZOK, after you have read the regulations of the given location.