Legislation within the scope of the environmental protection and waste management is a very extended field, in particular after the access of Poland to the European Union. The first act on chemical waste was entered into force in 1997 and was thoroughly amended in 2001. The acts related to this act are: “Environmental Protection Law”, Act on waste, Act on packagings and packaging waste, Act on obligations of entrepreneurs within the scope of waste management, Act on waste classification, and numerous local ordinances. Not complying with the regulations results in criminal responsibility in a form of a fine or even a loss of liberty.

The most important legal acts related to the waste management according to the state by 31 December 2007 are listed below.

EC legislation adopted in Poland immediately after the access to European Union (in force since 1 May 2004)

1. a) Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer (Official Journal L 244, of 29.09.2000, p. 1-24, with later amendments).

2. b) Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2002 on waste statistics (O. J. L 332, of 09.12.2002, p. 1, with later amendments).

3. c) Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on persistent organic pollutants and amending Directive 79/117/EEC (O. J. L 158, of 30.04.2004, p. 7-49, with later amendments).