19:08 20 August 2025
Waste sector’s debt increased 21% y/y in June
Debt in Poland’s waste management sector rose 21% y/y, reaching PLN 322.3 mln in June, according to BIG InfoMonitor and BIK. The sharpest increases occurred in waste processing and disposal (+30% to PLN 130.8 mln) and waste collection (+27% to PLN 104.4 mln). Overall, 1,100 firms face overdue liabilities, with 8.4% deemed unreliable payers—rising to 9.3% among collectors. The sector’s fragility raises concerns ahead of October’s deposit-return system, which will require significant investments.
Rising energy, labor, and transport costs, along with limited transition support, strain finances, while a large grey market—up to 40% of waste flows—undermines recycling targets. For households, mounting costs mean higher fees, e.g. in Kraków rising from PLN 27 to PLN 35 per person.
