Basel Convention

POLAND

Status of Ratification/Accession/Acceptance/Approval:	22.03.1992 (r)
Acceptance of the Amendment to the Basel Convention:	29.01.2003

Competent Authority	Focal Point
Chief Inspector Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection ul. Wawelska 52/54, 00-922 Warsaw tel: [phone] fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] web site: www.pios.gov.pl	Treaty Department Ministry of Foreign Affairs J. Ch. Szucha 23, 00-580 Warsaw tel: [phone] fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] web site: www.msz.gov.pl

National Definition

In the light of the Act on Waste of 27 April 2001 (O.J. of 2 June 2001, No.62, Item 628; came into force in October 2001) “waste” shall mean any substance or object in one of the categories listed in Annex I to this Act with the holder thereof discards or intends or is required to discard. In the light of the Act on Waste of 27 April 2001 (came into force in October 2001), “hazardous waste” shall mean waste: belonging to the categories or types of waste featuring in List A in Annex 2 to this Act and displaying at least one of the properties enumerated in Annex 4 to this Act, or belonging to the categories or types of waste featuring in List B in Annex 2 to this Act, containing any of the constituents enumerated in Annex 3 and displaying at least one of the properties enumerated in Annex 4 to this Act. Annex 2 features categories or types of hazardous waste. Annex 3 features constituents of wastes which render them hazardous. The Minister responsible for the environment laid down the ordinance on the waste catalogue (O.J. of 2001, No. 112, Item 1206). The new national list of hazardous wastes is part of the waste catalogue. New waste classification is consistent with EU classification. National list of hazardous waste is defined in the ordinance of the Minister of Environment on the waste catalogue (O.J. of 2001, No. 112, Item 1206). Wastes are divided into 20 groups, depending on source of generation. National list of hazardous waste is similar to Basel Convention Annexes I and II list of waste, but it is not identical. In Poland there are no wastes other than those pursuant to Art. 1 (1)a and/or Art. 1 (1)b of the Basel Convention that require special consideration when subjected to transboundary movement.

Data* on the Generation and Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes** and Other Wastes*** in 2000 (as reported)

		Quantities (in metric tonnes)
Generation	Total amount of hazardous wastesgenerated	1 627 143 ^1)
	Total amount of other wastesgenerated	12 422 105 ^2)
Transboundary Movement	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesexported	8 368
	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesimported	No import

* Figures are rounded to the nearest integer.

** Covers wastes under Art. 1 (1)a (Annex I: Y1-Y45) and Art. 1 (1)b.

*** Covers wastes under (Annex II: Y46-Y47).

1) Figure refers to total amount of hazardous wastes generated under Art. 1 (1)b. Data incomparable with previous years in view of new waste classification.

2) Data incomparable with previous years in view of new waste classification.

Restrictions on Transboundary Movement	Amendment to the Basel Convention Poland is in a preparatory process of ratification of the amendment to the Basel Convention (Decision III/1).
	Restrictions on export for final disposal and for recovery Poland restricts the export of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal and recovery. The relevant legislation is the Act on Waste of 27 April 2001,art. 66. The restriction covers all countries. Hazardous waste exports can take place with authorization from the Chief Inspector for Environmental Protection provided that the requirements set out in Article 66 par. 2 are satisfied. The same provisions shall apply respectively to shipments of hazardous waste trough the territory of the State of Poland. Non-hazardous waste exports do not require authorization from the Chief Inspector for Environmental Protection.
	Restrictions on import for final disposal Poland restricts the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal. The relevant legislation is the Act on Waste of 27 April 2001, art. 65. The restriction covers all countries. The import of hazardous waste and other waste for final disposal is totally prohibited.

Restrictions on import for recovery Poland restricts the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for recovery. The relevant legislation is the Act on Waste of 27 April 2001, art. 65. The restriction covers all countries. Hazardous waste imports can take place with authorization from the Chief Inspector for Environmental Protection, issued by way of a decision, provided that the requirements set out in Article 65 par. 8 are satisfied. Import of waste mixed with objects or substances which are not waste, will be prohibited. By way of a regulation, the minister responsible for the environment shall lay down the types of hazardous waste authorised for import, the period over which such types of waste may be imported and their quantities, taking into account the needs of the national economy and the feasibility of their recovery in a manner presenting no danger to human life and health and to the environment. Import of non-hazardous waste shall be effected only upon authorisation by a decision of the Chief Inspector for Environmental Protection. Regulations concerning authorisation of non-hazardous waste imports shall apply respectively to authorisation of hazardous waste imports. The minister responsible for the environment laid down the ordinance on the list of wastes whose import do not require a permit of the Chief Inspector for Environmental Protection (O.J. of 14 April 1998, No.47, Item 299, as amended on 14 March 2000, O.J. of 8 April 2000, No. 20, Item 251).

Restrictions on transit Poland restricts the transit of hazardous wastes and other wastes. The relevant legislation is the Act on Waste of 27 April 2001, art. 66. The restriction covers all countries. Hazardous waste transit can take place with authorization from the Chief Inspector for Environmental Protection provided that the requirements set out in Article 66 par.2 are satisfied. Non-hazardous waste transit does not require authorization from the Chief Inspector for Environmental Protection.

Reduction and/or Elimination of Hazardous Waste Generation	National strategies/policies The reduction of hazards posed by hazardous waste is one of the priorities of the National Environmental Policy. Passing the National Plan on Waste Management by the Council of Ministers is planned till the end of October 2002.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines The new Act on Waste regulates the issues related to hazardous waste management. Compared with the previous Act, the new Act imposes more demanding standards for the landfill and incineration of waste (in line with the EU requirements). The system of permits for the generation and further handling of hazardous waste will be maintained. The obligations of economic operators and the administration in the scope of information is expanded.
	Economic instruments/ initiatives The Act on Economic Operators’ Obligations in the Scope of Managing Certain Types of Waste and on the Product and Deposit Charges (O.J. of 2001, No.63, Item 639), entered into force on 1 January 2002. It contains legal and economic instruments (the obligation to recover waste - or pay product charges) promoting the establishment of a system for collection and recovery of certain types of hazardous waste (waste oils, discharge lamps, batteries and accumulators).

Disposal/ Recovery Facilities

None.

Bilateral, Multilateral or Regional Agreements

None.

Technical Assistance and Training Available

The available sources are: Institute of Environmental Protection; Main Mining Institute; Waste Management Institute; and State Geological Institute – hazardous waste landfills.

Basel Convention

Country Fact Sheet