Świetokrzyskie good practice - prevention of organic waste in rural areas.
About this good practice
In the Świętokrzyskie, the bio-waste fraction accounts for about 30% of all municipal waste. It is estimated that 1 resident of the region in 2022 generated 131 kg of bio-waste. In accordance with the directions contained in the EU Waste Management Policy for introduction of mandatory separate collection of bio-waste and national regulations, as of July 1, 2021, a system of collecting this waste was implemented in each municipality.
Bio-waste is mainly processed at 6 Regional Waste Management Plants (RWMP). 3 of RWMP produce soil improver from bio-waste and 1 of RWMP, as a result of methane fermentation from bio-waste, receives biogas used for electricity and heat production.
In the Świetokrzyskie, the system of home composters is gradually developing - the number of residential properties is increasing, in which bio-waste is managed ‘at source’.
Numerous actions and campaigns are carried out in the region to educate the public about the benefits and sense of selective collection of bio-waste and to popularize home composting of bio-waste or other use of bio-waste, such as for feeding animals. Good practices and solutions are constantly being sought to further develop the infrastructure, including an increase in the number of composters in the region. An important incentive for residents of the region to manage the bio-waste they generate is a partial exemption from the municipal waste management fee for composting bio-waste in their backyard composters.
Resources needed
Municipalities are responsible for the collection and management of municipal waste, while the costs of operating the system are covered by the fees collected from residents.
Modernization and expansion of the above-mentioned the installation is financed from national and European Union funds.
Evidence of success
-100% of communes implemented a system for selective collection of green waste and other bio-waste,
-main way of managing bio-waste between 2020-2022 was recovery. In 2022, 98% of all biodegradable municipal waste collected selectively was recycled.
-number of home composters increased successively between 2020-2022: 118,525 pieces in 2020, 150,784 in 2021, 162,893 in 2022.
-in 2022 - 101 communes (99%) have achieved the required level of preparation for re-use and recycling of municipal waste.
Potential for learning or transfer
Raising public awareness and convincing people of the validity of the measures taken to prevent bio-waste, its selective collection and management is a prerequisite for achieving high levels of selective collection of this waste. That is why it is so important to carry out regular actions and campaigns to educate the public about the benefits and sense of selective collection of bio-waste and to popularize home composting of bio-waste. It is important to undertake actions to increase the involvement of citizens and organizations in rural areas in composting. Good practices and solutions are being sought so that they will contribute to the development of infrastructure for bio-waste processing.