Owners of plots and gardens who burn collected branches and leaves risk being issued a penalty fine. According to the provisions of the Environmental Protection Law, burning green waste is prohibited and can result in a fine of up to 500 zloty. An exception is when burning takes place as part of a so-called recreational bonfire, which must meet specific conditions, such as an appropriate distance from buildings and flammable materials and the use of proper fuel. Municipal and communal guards remind of the ban, especially in the spring period when many people tidy up their properties.
Ban on burning green waste
The Environmental Protection Law explicitly prohibits burning waste, including branches, leaves, and grass, on property premises. This applies to both plots and home gardens. Violation of this provision constitutes a misdemeanor.
Fine up to 500 zloty
Burning branches on your own plot carries a penalty fine of up to 500 zloty. The fine can be imposed by municipal or communal guards. In extreme cases, where the action causes a hazard, the matter may go to court, which can impose a penalty of up to 5 thousand zloty.
Conditions for a recreational bonfire
It is permissible to light a bonfire for recreational purposes, e.g., for grilling or roasting sausages. However, it must meet conditions: a safe distance from buildings and flammable materials, the use of appropriate fuel (wood, briquettes), and continuous supervision by an adult. It cannot be used for waste disposal.
Alternative disposal methods
Instead of burning, green waste should be composted or taken to a municipal selective waste collection point (PSZOK). Many communes also organize collection of such waste or allow it to be left in bags by the garbage shed. These are legal and ecological solutions.
Owners of plots and gardens, starting their spring cleaning, must remember that burning collected branches, leaves, or grass is legally prohibited. According to the Environmental Protection Law, such action constitutes a misdemeanor involving the thermal transformation of waste outside an installation or device designated for that purpose. Violation of this provision carries a penalty fine of up to 500 zloty, which can be imposed by municipal or communal guards. In practice, as sources indicate, officers often intervene in such situations, especially when the rising smoke bothers neighbors or creates a fire hazard. The ban on burning waste in places not intended for that purpose has been in force in Poland for many years, being part of a broader air protection policy and the fight against so-called low emissions. Burning wet green waste in home fireplaces leads to the emission of harmful substances, including suspended particulates PM2.5 and PM10 and benzo(a)pyrene, which particularly in the heating season and spring worsens air quality. However, there is an exception to this rule. It is permissible to light a bonfire for recreational purposes, for example, for grilling. For such an activity to be legal, it must meet a number of conditions. The bonfire must be at a safe distance from buildings, forests, and flammable materials. Only wood or wood briquettes can be used as fuel – it is forbidden to add green waste, plastic, or other trash to it. Furthermore, an adult must supervise the fire at all times, who is responsible for safety and extinguishing the fire afterwards. The key distinction is: a recreational bonfire serves social purposes, not waste disposal. If guards determine that branches from cleaning are burning in it, they will consider it a violation of the law. Instead of risky and illegal practices, property owners have several alternative methods for managing green waste at their disposal. The most ecological and often simplest solution is to set up a composter, which allows for the production of valuable fertilizer. Waste can also be collected in bags and taken to a municipal selective waste collection point (PSZOK). Many local governments also organize periodic collection of such waste from properties or allow it to be left by the garbage shed, provided it is properly packaged. Using these legal paths not only protects against fines but also contributes to environmental protection and good neighborly relations.