Recycling a weak argument against burning waste at home

Most Poles know that recycled plastic waste can be used to manufacture new products. However, this fact is a significant argument against illegal waste burning for only 8% of respondents. As the survey results show, even the threat of a penalty is a much stronger motivation than returning raw materials to circulation. At the same time, a closed loop is not only a benefit for the environment but also an important element of autonomous supply chains and material security.

According to the latest survey conducted by SW Research, 48% of Poles encounter the practice of burning waste in households, including 14% who come across it very often. Only 14% state firmly that they never encounter such situations. More than one in five respondents say they rather do not, and 16% are unable to say.

Neighbours and strangers burn waste

The places most frequently indicated for observing waste burning are neighbours' homes and households passed while travelling across the country, with both answers receiving 49% of responses. 18% admit that they encounter such behaviour among their own friends, and 13% among family members. 12% of respondents admit to burning plastic waste at home. Of these, 3% confirm that they do so regularly and 8% occasionally.

Avoiding a penalty more important than recycling

84% of respondents consider burning waste in household stoves harmful, including more than half (53%) who regard the practice as definitely harmful. Both environmental pollution and the unpleasant smell are the arguments most frequently indicated as discouraging the burning of plastic waste in household stoves (41% of respondents each). For almost 20%, the threat of a penalty would be an argument discouraging this practice.

Fewer than 8% said that not wasting a raw material suitable for recycling would convince them most, even though the knowledge that plastic waste is a material that can be recycled and later used to manufacture new products appears to be widespread. 89% of respondents declare awareness of this. Among them, three out of five respondents (61%) are strongly convinced of it.

Effects visible in practice

In public debate, the issue of burning waste is associated primarily with air quality, smog and the impact of this practice on health.

"The link between burning waste and wasting valuable raw materials that could be recycled is much weaker. That is why it is worth educating people on this subject and talking about the advantages of the circular economy. In the current political and economic reality, it is also good to raise awareness that by recycling waste into material used to manufacture new products, we save natural resources, increase the independence of our industry from imports and secure our own supply chains for materials that are essential not only for our comfort but also in strategic applications such as energy, healthcare and transport," says Anna Kozera-Szałkowska, Managing Director of Plastics Europe Polska, which has been running the campaign "Plastik nie do pieca, piec nie do plastików" (Plastic not for the stove, the stove not for plastics) since 2016.

The expert also stresses the importance of sorting plastic waste correctly. When waste is placed in the yellow bin, it can be managed in the most efficient way. "The effects of this can be seen in practice in many areas. For example, as the latest data show, one fifth of all plastic products used in construction already come from recycling."

Information about the campaign "Plastik nie do pieca, piec nie do plastików", including free educational materials for teachers, municipalities and all other interested parties, is available on the campaign website.