No more straws and plastic cutlery. For breaking the ban, even half a million fines

on amending the act on the obligations of entrepreneurs with regard to the management of certain waste and on the product fee, and some other acts was published on May 9. According to the announcements, the normative act is to enter into force after 14 days. This means that as early as May 24, manufacturers will not be able to place certain single-use plastic products on the market.

No more single-use plastic. Last chance for plastics producers

The purpose of the amendment is primarily to comply with the directives introducing restrictions on the use of disposable products made of plastic. It is also intended to contribute to the withdrawal of such items from sale. According to the regulations, the ban will apply from May 24. It only applies to the launch of new products on the market. that have plastic items such as straws or cutlery in their warehouses, will be able to sell them, provided that an invoice is issued for them on May 23 at the latest, i.e. before the Act enters into force. Those that were introduced to the market before that date or found in wholesale databases will be able to be sold until stocks run out.

What products will be banned?

Products that cannot be placed on the market due to the entry into force of the amendment are listed in Annex 2 to the Act. These are:

• cotton buds, with the exception of cotton buds intended for medical purposes in accordance with the definition of a medical device,
• cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks),
• plates
• straws, with the exception of straws intended for medical purposes in accordance with the definition of a medical device,
• drink stirrers,
• sticks attached to balloons and used to make the balloons rest on them, including the mechanisms of these sticks,
• containers made of expanded polystyrene,
• beverage containers, including their caps and lids, made of expanded polystyrene,
• beverage cups, including their caps and lids, made of expanded polystyrene.

What will be the penalty for breaking the rules?

Entrepreneurs who, after the entry into force of the act, will break the applicable ones, will face administrative fines in the amount of PLN 10,000 to PLN 10,000. up to 500,000 zloty. The decision to impose a fine will be taken by the competent voivodship inspector for environmental protection. In turn, the amount according to the Act will be determined on the basis of “the degree of harmfulness of the infringement, the type, scope and duration of the infringement and the previous activity of the entity”.