Current state of municipal waste management in Poland has been established during the last 50 years. Unfortunately, except the last 10 years this period in the Central and Eastern Europe was characterized by gross negligence in all branches of economy, including also carelessness in the sphere of waste management, the results of which have been intensifying and will be perceived for many years. The changes which in Western Europe occurred after the Second World War stimulated progressive technological development and simultaneous cultural development. In Poland the systemic transformations after 1989 happened rapidly, which led to a tremendous increase in consumption and in turn raised the amount of generated municipal wastes. In near future Polish legal system will have to adjust to the regulations in force in the European Union. In the area of municipal economy one of the most important regulations is the Directive of the Council of Europe No. 99/31/WE dated 26 April 1999 on waste deposition. The directive requires reduction of the contents of biodegradable substances deposited on municipal landfill sites. According to article 18 par. 1 of the directive, municipal wastes, which undergo biodegradation and are brought to the landfills after 1 May 2009 must be reduced ...
