Poland's Evironment, recycling

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Edited by: Amathyst Jan 14, 07, 09:10 #1

I wanted to ask if Polish people are as in to recycling as the English, we have been made aware of how much of a disposable society we live in and albeit a bit late we are starting to actually take care of what we throw away - and how we treat our environment My Parents have 4 bins and this is the norm these days.

1. Plastic
2. Glass
3. Paper
4 general rubbish
Oh and they have a compost bin too.

We are told that aerosols are bad and that we should use electricity carefully, cars use unleaded petrol and have catalytic converters so minimised emissions. Agencies have been set up for women with babies who want to use terrie nappies they clean and supply the nappies and the cost is actually lower than purchasing disposable, landfill sites are running out of space and since we use circa. 3 billion disposable nappies a year it's a big problem. The weather is another big issue, this week we have had storms and rain and a few weeks ago we had hailstone, today the sun is shining bright yet the weather forecast tells us it’s looking like we’re in for a big freeze and snow! Products in supermarkets brag that they are recycled and generally sell at a higher price, yet you’ll find them next t.v. dinners in disposable packaging, it’s all very contradictory really but I like a lot of other people take it serious since I consider it important not just for me but for future generations to be able to enjoy a normal life.

Grzegorz_Threads: 80 Posts: 6,102 Joined: Nov 16, 06 ♂	Jan 14, 07, 09:29 #2
Quoting: Amathyst, Post #1 I wanted to ask if Polish people are as in to recycling as the English Not at all until a few years ago, now a little bit, but not much. However we're in EU now, so there are almost the same environment rules (the same since 2012 I think) for industry and business in general.

krysiaThreads: 26 Posts: 3,604 Joined: Aug 10, 06 ♀	Jan 14, 07, 09:59 #3
Yeah, Poland is just getting used to recycling. This Polish family I know, who lives in the US (ILLEGALY!) does not follow the rules of recycling. Here everyone recycles, but they try to hide cans, bottles, etc, in the garbage so no one will see. It takes a while for the mind to get used to new things.

MagdushyaThreads: 3 Posts: 233 Joined: Feb 1, 07 ♀	Feb 9, 07, 12:51 #4
Quoting: Amathyst My Parents have 4 bins and this is the norm these days. It's so good your parents are like that and you care about recycling. Thanks of persons like you can dissapear these posters that England is full of rubbish. I hope is more clean in your city then in B'ham.

BubbaWooThreads: 46 Posts: 4,438 Joined: Sep 26, 06 ♂	Feb 9, 07, 12:56 #5
i went to the supermarket today and walked off with about 5 plastic bags... only bought 4 things... a tad excessive me thinks...

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Edited by: Kowalski Feb 9, 07, 13:21 #6

I do save myself papper and plastic botles and have to carry them to special containers some 50 yards which is fine. My beer botles I'd leave outside garbage can and they are later picked up by some junkies who'd sell them later. I don't return bottles myself because they never welcome you well with the bottles. They'd say it's for "exchange only" ...Customer service sucks in Poland big way. I notice Poles don't save water. They'd wash dishes in running water, no soaking. It is happening especially in housholds where there is no individual meters. Still many simply think saving water or energy is a sympthom of poverty. They can afford it.

Some pics from Warsaw:

fz.eco.pl/?a=odpady-067

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Feb 9, 07, 13:32 #7

well Kowalski
I wouldnt be so hard for polish people. I dont say that polish do care about the environtment because they dont but they care for sure about their pockets, therefore the story about wasted water is not true any longer as well as the energy use is more efficient.
well I do agree about the problem with returning glasses bottles or tons of plastic bags in shopping moles ... maybe the paper is less popular since not every polish family has a car to carry the goods they bought straight home... or maybe bacause it is cheaper to use such a plastic bag as a garbage one

thats a recycling as well BUHAHAHAHAHHA

KamykThreads: 3 Posts: 69 Joined: Jan 19, 07 ♂	Feb 9, 07, 13:35 #8
Quoting: Amathyst y Parents have 4 bins and this is the norm these days. We do the same in Canada. I have 3 different bins. 1st for plastics/metals, 2nd for paper, 3rd for regular garbage. Yes it takes time to get used to the idea of recycling but after a while it's really no hassle at all.

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Feb 9, 07, 13:44 #9

Quoting: Kowalski

...Customer service sucks in Poland big way

I agree with that .. but I think it will change over time. I've already noticed the difference when I visited Poland very recently.

Quoting: forgetmenots

I notice Poles don't save water. They'd wash dishes in running water, no soaking. It is happening especially in housholds where there is no individual meters

I always thought that there was a policy put in place couple years ago that every housing unit is supposed to have individual water usage metering to prevent such water waste. Once you pay for what you've used up, people actually started to conserve. I guess the regulation is not fully in place yet.

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Feb 9, 07, 17:21 #10

In my neigbourhood (UK) the choice of recycling is determined by local council - some areas are environment friendly, some not. In my place there is one large bin for 3 1 bedroom flats emptied on daily basis - I wouldn't call it recycling .
About 7-10 years ago polish local housing where I lived introduced recycling in my area, and it works well since then.
Wasting water is typical for UK, but not for Poland. Some time ago after water alerts in UK one company wanted introduce meters for resident. They did not agree with this idea.10 years ago my parents in Poland asked housing office for permission to put personal water meter in their flat.
When I lived in Netherlands, we didn't have any bins at all - apart from small ones in our own kitchen. We were supposed to place one black bag with organic wastes once a week on the street, the rest (glass, paper, plastic, cans) was to be placed in special containers (some of them about 5 minutes on foot from our flat). We used to do that - noone wants to keep litters inside. For me Netherlands is perfect example.
I used to recognize Polish people in UK, when they placed litters in bin...not only because there are so many Poles.

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Feb 10, 07, 08:24 #11

The community I live in in Poland, recycles glass, paper and plastic, as well as ''large'' rubbish (i.e. old tellys, fridges, etc). We're very often visited by private scrap metal collectors (''zlomiarze''

). There's been also a sewage system being introduced (very slowly, however), so that the people won't have to collect their waste water and sewage in cesspits (many of them without bottom, so dirty water soaks in soil and possibly contaminates groundwater), and I hope that it'll improve water quality in our local rivers.

Sadie

Feb 15, 07, 06:59 #12

Quoting: wonski81

Wasting water is typical for UK, but not for Poland. Some time ago after water alerts in UK one company wanted introduce meters for resident. They did not agree with this idea.10 years ago my parents in Poland asked housing office for permission to put personal water meter in their flat.

Water rates are quite high in the UK dependant on how the rateable value was set on your property, I had a 3 bed house and the price was £11 per month - I now have a 2 bed flat and my water rates are £36 per month, I have asked for a water meter and the projected costs per month are £15.00 so not only is it envronmentally efficient, its also cost effective for people who live by themselves

iwonaThreads: 13 Posts: 639 Joined: Aug 6, 06 ♀	Feb 15, 07, 13:10 #13
I think that Poland is slowly catching up. I don't mind all these bins in UK at least rubbish is segregated and recycled. One good thing in Poland is that in shops we have to pay for single plastic bags so more people have their longer "lasting ones". In Uk they give you free bags everywhere I guess that it is for advert-promotion purposes but environmently friendly?......

Sadie

Feb 16, 07, 05:38 #14

Quoting: iwona

One good thing in Poland is that in shops we have to pay for single plastic bags so more people have their longer "lasting ones". In Uk they give you free bags everywhere I guess that it is for advert-promotion purposes but environmently friendly?......

People are encoraged to re-use, but its rare that people do.

May I ask a question about recycling in the work place. Do Polish companies actively encorage it? If they do, what kind of schemes are they involved in?

Sadie

RanjThreads: 27 Posts: 1,286 Joined: Sep 29, 06 ♀	Feb 16, 07, 05:43 #15
Quoting: Sadie People are encoraged to re-use, but its rare that people do. I have found plastic bags come in quite handy when following the dogs on their walks....it certainly makes the neighbours happy when the dogs venture into their yards (if you get my drift). I also use them as liners in small waste cans.

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Edited by: Kamyk Feb 17, 07, 11:54 #16

I thought I would paste a snapshot of how Germany looks like where the tourist dont see it hehe. So not only Poland has problems with environment, it all depends on us, people living everyday lives and contributing to the mess around ourselves.

WroclawThreads: 74 Posts: 7,272 Joined: Apr 1, 06 ♂ [Moderator]	Feb 17, 07, 12:14 #17
Quoting: Ranj I have found plastic bags come in quite handy when following the dogs on their walks....it certainly makes the neighbours happy when the dogs venture into their yards The locals here all complain about about dog mess and at the same time think I'm a little odd when I clean up what 'Dream' leaves behind.

ZgubionyThreads: 21 Posts: 2,037 Joined: Oct 20, 06 ♂	Feb 17, 07, 12:20 #18
Quoting: Ranj I have found plastic bags come in quite handy when following the dogs on their walks....it certainly makes the neighbours happy when the dogs venture into their yards (if you get my drift). I also use them as liners in small waste cans You don't wrap the bag around your hand and pick it up do you? I see people doing this.

WroclawThreads: 74 Posts: 7,272 Joined: Apr 1, 06 ♂ [Moderator]	Feb 17, 07, 12:38 #19
Z, Yup, that's the way to do it.

forgetmenotsThreads: 4 Posts: 94 Joined: Jan 18, 07 ♀	Feb 17, 07, 13:14 #20
Quoting: Zgubiony You don't wrap the bag around your hand and pick it up do you? sheesh thats the perfect way to make what your pet has created lasting forever in that plastic wrapping

RanjThreads: 27 Posts: 1,286 Joined: Sep 29, 06 ♀	Feb 17, 07, 13:14 #21
Quoting: Zgubiony You don't wrap the bag around your hand and pick it up do you? I see people doing this. Of course----it's the most efficient way....I've tried pooper scoopers and those are crap (no pun intended). Don't worry, I always wash my hands (occupational hazard) after taking care of the dogs and any other things.....

RanjThreads: 27 Posts: 1,286 Joined: Sep 29, 06 ♀	Feb 17, 07, 13:17 #22
Quoting: Kamyk a snapshot of how Germany looks like where the tourist dont see it Looks like Germany and my kitchen after a dinner party, have a lot in common

Arien

Feb 17, 07, 13:35 #23

In Holland, we have two large bins, a Grey one and a Green one. The Grey one is supposed to be for domestic rubbish. The Green one is supposed to be for biological rubbish.

We have a smaller box too, this one is supposed to be for batteries and other sorts of chemical rubbish.

We are supposed to deliver our glass ourselves to the nearest supermarket. If they are recyclable bottles, you'll get a small refund for that when you place them into an automated system, the rest of your glass disposal goes into a large container which can be found anywhere near a supermarket.

When you have to dispose of an old couch, cabinet or anything else real big, you're supposed to call the recycling company, and they'll come by with a truck to pick it up for you for a small price.

I know it's a thread about Poland, but it might be interesting for potential Polish immigrants to our country to know that this is how it works here.

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Feb 17, 07, 13:40 #24

Where my parents live there are four bins outdoors, one for paper, one for plastic (always full), one for glass and a big one for general rubbish. The council did what it could (cans get pcked up by local scrap collectors anyway) and the rest is up to people. You can recycle, or you can throw everything into the general rubbish container.

But, as you say, it takes time for people to get used to things. When I still lived with my paents, I had to fight for them to start sparating cans and plastics (newspapers and magaznes were stord separately anyway). Now they're pretty happy with it, every time they go out they take a small bag f rubbish, e.g. plastics, and don't have to worry about the general rubbish so much.

And a word about England. When I lived there, we had problems with the guys who used to pick up rubbish, they appeared to dislike the papers most. Everytime we left magazines and flattened cornflake boxes they left them in the green "ëco" box, then they got wet with rain, started smelling bad, and in the end we were forced to pack them away along with regular rubbish. Not very efficient, is it?

bossieThreads: 1 Posts: 148 Joined: Jun 11, 06 ♀	Feb 17, 07, 13:47 #25
An automted system for glass is a grat idea. In Poland only some supermarkets accept beer bottles, local shops do it only with a rceipt and still unwillingly (after all if you don't return the bottles it's as if they sold them to you). Milk and cream bottles are a distant memory from my childhood...

tylerdurdenThreads: 1 Posts: 2 Joined: Jan 8, 10 ♂	Jan 10, 10, 14:50 #26
Jan 10, 10, 16:23 - Thread attached on merging: Warsaw \| Recycling system Hi all, How's the recycling system in warsaw? Are there special rubbish bins to separate the scraps? I haven't seen them... but actually I haven't looked for it much :) Thanks!

mephiasThreads: 15 Posts: 811 Joined: Nov 14, 08 MEMBER ♂	Jan 10, 10, 14:58 #27
Yes, in my apartment there are different containers for paper and plastic and other rubbish. And they are recycled I guess.

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