The recycling levy for carrier bags is a charge that businesses that market plastic bags between 15 and 50 micrometres thick must pay. It is part of a broader policy to reduce plastic consumption and promote greener packaging solutions. The obligation was introduced by an amendment to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Management Act, in line with an EU directive aimed at reducing plastic waste.
Recycling levy for plastic bags - obligations
The BDO (Waste Database) system is a central register to monitor and control waste management in Poland. Entry into the BDO system is mandatory for many companies, including those that market commercials. Any company that provides commercial bags for consumer use is not only obliged to record them, but also to pay a recycling fee for commercial bags. As a retailer offering plastic bags, you have several important obligations to comply with:
- charging a recycling fee to customers for every commercial bag issued, with the exception of so-called „rip-offs” - very lightweight bags less than 15 micrometres thick, mainly used for bulk food packaging.
- payment of the collected fee to the relevant Marshal's Office. You must remit this fee to the account of the relevant office in accordance with the quarterly schedule.
Any trader offering plastic bags must be registered in the BDO Register (Database on Products and Packaging and Waste Management). This entry is compulsory for all commercial units that make plastic bags available to customers. In order to obtain an entry, a corresponding application must be submitted to the BDO system. Remember that submitting false information carries criminal liability, so be sure to fill in all fields of the application carefully, especially those marked with a red asterisk. If your application is successful, you will receive an individual registration number, which you will need to submit an annual report on the number of plastic bags issued.
What is subject to the recycling charge and what is the rate?
The recycling levy applies to all plastic shopping bags that are made available to customers in retail shops and wholesalers. The regulations apply to both lightweight and standard plastic bags that are used to pack purchases. An exception is so-called „rip-offs”, which are very lightweight bags with a thickness of less than 15 micrometres. These bags can only be offered free of charge in specific cases, such as the packaging of food sold in bulk, which is related to hygiene or the prevention of food waste. Examples are bags that are used to package fruit, vegetables or bread.
The rate of the recycling fee for each shopping bag is 20 cents. It is worth noting that the trader can choose whether this charge is added to the price of the bag or is the total cost of the bag. In the case where the bag has an additional price, the customer will end up paying for both the bag itself and the recycling fee charged. It is important that the information about this fee is clear and transparent to the customer and that the money collected is transferred to the relevant marshal's office in accordance with the regulations.
The scheme aims to reduce the consumption of plastic bags and increase environmental awareness among consumers. In addition, the levy collected supports environmental efforts by helping to reduce the amount of plastic waste placed on the market.
Report on the number of bags
Any trader registered with BDO who provides plastic shopping bags is required to submit an annual report on the number of bags purchased and issued. This report covers both lightweight bags (between 15 and 49 micrometres thick) and other bags (50 micrometres thick and above). If you, too, are concerned by the records of commercial bags, you can find a template for the documentation on government websites, among others. The document must be submitted electronically via your individual account in the BDO Register, no later than 15 March each year, for the previous calendar year. The report must accurately indicate the number of bags placed on the market, which allows the recycling fees collected to be properly accounted for and makes it possible to check compliance with the applicable legislation. Failure to report on time or incorrect data may result in administrative fines, so it is important to keep meticulous records of shopping bags.
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