No, open burning in Poland is largely prohibited under the 2023 amendment to the Act on Waste Management and Clean Air Act, with exceptions for agricultural residue burning in specific rural communes under strict regional permits issued by Wojewódzki Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska (WIOŚ). Violations incur fines up to 5,000 PLN, while persistent offenders face criminal liability under Article 183 of the Environmental Protection Act. The 2026 EU Air Quality Directive further tightens enforcement, mandating real-time emissions monitoring for permitted burns.
Key Regulations for Open Burning in Poland
- Permit Dependency: Agricultural residue burning requires prior approval from WIOŚ under Rozporządzenie Ministra Klimatu i Środowiska (2024), restricting burns to non-peak ozone seasons (April–October) and banning plastic-contaminated materials.
- Municipal Bans: Cities like Kraków and Warsaw enforce year-round prohibitions via uchwały sejmików wojewódzkich, citing particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10) exceedances linked to open burning.
- Penalty Escalation: Repeat offenders face asset seizures under Ustawa o Inspekcji Ochrony Środowiska (2025), with liability extending to landowners if waste originates from their property.
Local fire departments (Państwowa Straż Pożarna) may intervene without notice if smoke dispersion violates Dyrektywa 2008/50/WE thresholds. Exemptions exist for emergency burns (e.g., disease control), but documentation must be submitted to Główny Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska within 48 hours.