Streszczenie:

The work examines the role of innovative solutions in order to make more efficient use of waste and the reduction of their storage. Such solutions are necessary in the transformation process of linear economy to circular model. In the new model, the role of waste is being changed. Waste has not yet been treated as a by-product of economic activity but as a valuable resource that can be reused in the production process.
There were also analysed how extent is the development of innovativeness in Poland in comparison to other European Union Member Countries. There is also analysed the direction of changes in the waste management field, especially in the structure of municipal waste. Another aim is to examine the examples of the Polish enterprises acting in waste management sector and the kind of innovative methods they use. In the article there were also presented supportive tools for implementing innovations in enterprises, with a focus on the waste management. They include among others: National Smart Specialisations and Regional Smart Specialisations.