Factors of changes in waste management in a mountain region of southern Poland

Abstract

The aim of the work was to analyse the changes in the effectiveness of municipal waste management for the period 2009-2015, in one of the largest counties in the mountainous region of southern Poland. Socio-demographic factors, as well as changes as a result of the implementation of the provisions of Directive 1999/31/WE and Directive 2008/98/EC into Polish legislation, are considered. Over the period of seven years, there was a significant increase in the amount of municipal waste generated in the county of 32%, with a simultaneous increase in the number of inhabitants and a decrease in the number of individuals registered as unemployed. An increase in the amount of waste that is non-selectively collected and the number of properties covered by collections of municipal waste occurred before there were any changes in waste management. However, after the changes, the amount of six types of waste selectively collected (paper and cardboard, plastic, metal, bulky, WEEE) increased, with a significant 40% share of glass waste reference to the selectively collected waste. This may result from the changes in waste management. However, over the whole research period, more than 80% of waste was non-selectively collected, which may result from a lack of ecological awareness.