240 PLN per month for a family of four. Harsh penalties and multiple inspections.

• Residents who are careless about waste segregation must expect their monthly waste collection fee to increase.
• The obligation to segregate waste is ignored by some residents of multi-unit buildings.
• The local government argues that the number of tools that facilitate waste segregation is constantly growing.

More than five years have passed since the nationwide implementation of selective waste collection . "Information from the waste collection operator in our city indicates that residents of single-family homes are significantly more disciplined. Problems with waste segregation, or rather the lack thereof, occur most often in multi-family buildings," Bytom City Hall informs residents.

Literally everything goes into mixed waste (the black bin)—from furniture to clothing, glass bottles, metal cans, and debris. It's hard to talk about accidents or minor omissions. It's either complete ignorance or a lack of will.

- says Zuzanna Kurczek, head of the Municipal Waste Management Department.

The city council warns that residents who neglect waste separation should expect an increase in their monthly waste collection fees. The standard per-person garbage collection fee in Bytom is PLN 30 per month. However, if an inspection reveals that waste is not being segregated, the resident will be charged PLN 60 per person per month.

For a family of four who previously paid 120 PLN, this will amount to around 240 PLN per month. Is it really worth paying more? Remember that inspections are continuous and may affect your property multiple times. In such a case, the fee will be higher each time, the office emphasizes.

The local government argues that the number of tools that make waste sorting easier is constantly growing . Posters with waste sorting guidelines hang in virtually every stairwell and utility yard. The free EcoHarmonogram app includes a waste search engine that, in seconds, suggests which container to put your waste in.

Mobile collections of problematic waste (mPSZOK) and electronic waste collections are being organized in various parts of the city. A "Rzeodzielnia" (Recycling Center) has even been established, a place where residents can donate unwanted items to others, in line with the "reuse" principle.

We're doing everything we can to make it easier for residents to properly separate waste, but too many still ignore this responsibility. Either we start treating waste separation as a duty, not a whim, or we'll pay for our irresponsibility.

- says Zuzanna Kurczek.

Bytom City Hall reminds residents that municipalities must achieve a 55% waste recycling rate by 2025. Otherwise, they will have to pay high fines, which will translate into price increases for residents.