How to file a BDO report - step-by-step instructions for the entrepreneur

Q: By when must the BDO report be submitted?

As a general rule, to 15 March for the previous calendar year . This applies to both waste and product reporting.

Q: Where to find instructions for submitting the BDO report?

On the BDO official website, in the section „Instructions - step by step BDO system”.” and in the PDF instructions for the reporting module and the individual types of reports.

The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make is to treat the BDO report as a one-size-fits-all form for all companies. In practice, you first need to establish, what type of report applies to your activity, and only then proceed to submit it to the system. For some companies it will be a report on waste generated and on waste management, for others a report on products, packaging and the management of waste arising from them, and some entities may be subject to both obligations at the same time. Official sources from Biznes.gov.pl indicate that both reports are submitted electronically via an account in the BDO system to 15 March for the previous calendar year. This means that correct reporting starts not with just logging in, but with correctly recognising the obligation.

Step 1: determine which report you need to submit

This is the most important stage. If a company keeps records of waste, it will most often submit a report on waste generation and waste management. If, on the other hand, it operates in the area of product, packaging, plastic bags, SUP or similar obligations, it may be required to report on products, packaging and the management of waste arising therefrom. Business.gov.pl's official services separate these two obligations into separate procedures, each filed through the BDO system. In practice, this is where entrepreneurs make their first mistake: they have a BDO number and assume that they have to file „everything”, rather than checking by what title their company is on the register.

Step 2: log into the system and select the correct form

Once you have determined the type of obligation, you need to enter the BDO system and go to the reporting module. The official BDO website directly indicates the section „Instructions - step by step BDO system”.”, which contains instructions for the reporting module and separate files for waste and product reporting. The instructions show that once the appropriate form is selected, the system displays a list of available reports and then guides the user through the following steps: form selection, addressee selection, saving and proceeding to complete the sections and tables. In practice, this means that technically the entire report is created directly in the BDO system, rather than outside it.

Step 3: prepare the data in advance and complete only those sections that apply to your company

Most errors are not due to clicks in the system, but to a lack of prepared data. In the waste report, information from waste records, KEOs and KPOs will be needed. In the product report, data on packaging, products and other environmental obligations of the company will be the basis. BDO's official instructions show that once the form is saved, the system displays all the sections broken down into tables to be filled in according to the activity. This is very important, as it is not a matter of filling in everything that is shown on the screen, but of completing those sections that actually relate to the entrepreneur's responsibilities. With the waste report, it is also important to bear in mind that the regulations do not stipulate the obligation to submit the so-called 'waste report'. nil report, if the entity generated no waste in the year.

Step 4: check the addressee, submit the report and keep the confirmation

The final step is to select the correct addressee and submit the form. The official BDO instructions indicate that in the system you select the the provincial marshal responsible for a given type of report and entity. Once the form has been sent, it is necessary to keep a confirmation of the submission and to check the status of the report in the list in the system. This is particularly important from the point of view of control or subsequent correction. In practice, a well-submitted report is not only a „sent” form, but also a document whose status and confirmation can be easily reproduced later. And since the official BDO website regularly reminds you of the deadlines and publishes webinars on reporting, it is worth not leaving it to the last days before 15 March.

Frequently asked questions

By when must the BDO report be submitted?

As a general rule, to 15 March for the previous calendar year. This applies to both waste and product reporting.

Where is the BDO report submitted?

Only electronically, using an account in the BDO system.

How do I know which report applies to my company?

It needs to be established whether the company's activities relate to waste records, product and packaging obligations or both areas at the same time. This follows from the scope of services described on Business.gov.co.uk and the type of BDO entry.

Is it necessary to file a nil report with BDO?

In the case of the report on waste generated, the legislation does not provide for the obligation to submit a so-called zero report if the entity did not generate waste in the reporting year.

Where to find instructions for submitting the BDO report?

On the BDO official website, in the section „Instructions - step by step BDO system”.” and in the PDF instructions for the reporting module and the individual types of reports.

If you want to check which BDO report applies to your company and how to correctly file it in the system without errors, Ekopro Group provides assistance. On a day-to-day basis, we support entrepreneurs in topics related to BDO, waste registers, product and waste reporting and ongoing support for environmental obligations. Feel free to contact us We will help you determine the scope of your obligation, prepare your data and safely go through the entire reporting process.