FAQ - Waste transport

Waste transport in Poland:
The issue of marking vehicles transporting waste is regulated by the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of October 7, 2016. According to it, vehicles (or vehicle combinations) are marked with a white plate measuring 400 mm wide and 300 mm high. The inscription "WASTE" is placed on it in capital black letters, at least 100 mm high and with a line width of at least 15 mm.

If the structure of the vehicle prevents the appropriate installation of the said plate, the following may be reduced:
– the dimensions of the board must be at least 300 mm wide and at least 120 mm high;
– the height of the inscription "WASTE" to a minimum of 80 mm and the line width to a minimum of 12 mm.

International transport
In the case of cross-border waste transport, a white board with the same dimensions is used. However, there is a capital letter "A" in black on it. In this case, its height must be at least 200 mm and the line width must be at least 20 mm.

Vehicle markings are placed in a visible place at the front of the means of transport, on its external surface. The marking should be legible and durable, including resistant to weather conditions.

These provisions do not apply if there is no obligation to keep records. Similarly, when a vehicle transports non-hazardous waste in an amount not exceeding 100 kg.

It all depends on the country to which the transport concerns. High financial penalties are certainly involved. They can reach up to several thousand euros. In some countries, the car is also "impounded" for a specified period of time, e.g. 2 months. The services often send samples of transported waste to the laboratory. All this to determine their composition and confirm or exclude their properties. Importantly, during the inspection, the car remains in the parking lot of the services authorized to stop it - for a fee, of course. In short, driving without a valid license permits for waste transport may result in dangerous consequences.

Hazardous waste is materials that are difficult to store and transport due to their potential threat to the environment and human health. Therefore, there are strict regulations governing their transport. Companies wishing to deal with them must become familiar with them and comply with them, which can be a challenge.

ADR, i.e. the starting point for the legal transport of hazardous waste
ADR to umowa dotycząca międzynarodowego transportu towarów niebezpiecznych, obowiązująca od 1957 roku. Polska przystąpiła do niej w 1975 roku, a jej treść jest aktualizowana co 2 lata. Wszyscy sygnatariusze zobowiązani są do przestrzegania tych regulacji. Dotyczy to więc również polskich przedsiębiorców zajmujących się transportem odpadów niebezpiecznych.

Such waste is materials that may pose a threat to the natural environment in any way. These include, for example, solvents, adhesives, paints, substances containing acid, fertilizer residues, etc.

Why can't every company provide hazardous waste transportation services?
ADR regulations are very restrictive and require large financial outlays, including: in adapting vehicles for the safe transport of hazardous waste. While excluding the risk of contact of these materials with the environment and people.

Just building the backend for waste transport dangerous requires huge investments. Carriers must also be aware of regular changes to the ADR contract.
Another problem they point out is that the provisions contained in the ADR contract are not always fully clear. For example: not all hazardous waste is subject to ADR regulations. Due to this, the carrier, especially a beginner, must always check the list of materials entrusted to him and verify it in terms of ADR regulations.

The international transport of waste is also regulated by the Basel Convention of 1989, signed in Switzerland and recognized by 190 countries around the world. It also causes many problems for entrepreneurs.

That's why more and more companies are willing to use the help of specialized teams, such as Ekologistyka24, which offer comprehensive care in the field of, for example, obtaining permits for the transport of hazardous waste in individual European countries.

– Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006: Applies to shipments of waste within the European Union and between EU Member States and non-EU countries. Sets out rules for the registration, control and supervision of such shipments.
– Directive 2008/98/EC: concerns waste and repeals Directive 2006/12/EC. Sets out principles for the management of waste, including its collection, recycling, recovery and disposal, and promotes a waste hierarchy whereby waste is avoided, reduced in quantity and then, if possible, treated for the recovery of raw materials or energy.
– Regulation (EU) No 660/2014: Sets out detailed rules on the registration, reporting and monitoring of waste shipments under the electronic system.
– Directive 1999/31/EC: Concerns landfill and sets out principles for safe landfill and requirements for the selection and management of landfill sites.
– Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002: Concerning the collection of statistics on waste management in the European Union.
– Directive 94/62/EC: Addresses packaging and packaging waste. Sets targets for reducing packaging waste and promotes recycling and other forms of recovery.

No, not everyone can undertake waste shipments abroad. In the European Union, the transport of waste is regulated by a series of rules that set out the conditions and requirements for such shipments. These regulations are designed to ensure safe and responsible waste management and to protect public health and the environment.

Individuals or companies interested in transporting waste abroad must meet certain requirements, including:
1) Possession of the relevant permits, licences and registrations depending on the type of waste and countries of destination.
2) Ensuring that waste is shipped according to the waste hierarchy, meaning that priority is given to waste avoidance followed by waste reduction, recycling, recovery and disposal.
3) Ensuring that the transport of waste is carried out in accordance with health, safety, public health and environmental regulations.
4) Maintain appropriate documentation and reporting on waste shipments.

Various issues need to be thoroughly researched and prepared for before embarking on a cross-border waste shipment. It is worth paying attention to:
1) Legal requirements: Check the applicable legislation both in the country from which you are transporting the waste and in the country to which you are transporting it. Make sure you comply with all licensing, permit and registration requirements.
2) Type of waste: Identify precisely the type of waste you intend to transport. Waste is classified according to different categories and its movement may be governed by different regulations depending on its nature.
3) Safety and environmental protection: Make sure you have adequate safety measures and procedures in case of a spill or accident during waste transport. Comply with all safety, hygiene and public health and environmental requirements.
4) Documentation and reporting: Remember to keep accurate records of waste shipments, including permits, licences, transport contracts, transport documents, etc. Be prepared to report waste shipments in accordance with applicable regulations.
5) Monitoring and controls: Liaise with the relevant regulatory authorities and be ready for possible checks and inspections on waste shipments.

Paying attention to these issues before embarking on a cross-border waste shipment will help ensure that the process is legal, safe and responsibly managed.