Larger database and new functionalities. BDO will become a tool for monitoring the waste market

• For a long time, local governments have been complaining about the operation of the Database on Products, Packaging and Waste Management (BDO).
• The Ministry of Climate and Environment is planning changes to BDO, but admits that there are insufficient funds for this.
• Due to limited funds in the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, this year less than half of the above-mentioned limit, i.e. approximately PLN 13.65 million, is expected to be allocated for tasks related to the BDO system.

In accordance with the applicable provisions of the Act of 14 December 2012 on waste, entrepreneurs conducting business in the field of waste management are obliged to keep records and submit detailed reports via the BDO system - Database on products and packaging and on waste management.

Local government officials have long indicated that the current form of reporting is too complicated and incomprehensible. As MP Lidia Czechak notes in her parliamentary interpellation, the BDO system itself, although it is a significant step towards the digitization of waste management, still raises many concerns about its functionality.

The parliamentarian reminds that the Supreme Audit Office also negatively assesses the actions of public administration aimed at reducing waste production and ensuring its recycling.

In order to improve the functioning of the system, NIK has requested the Ministry of Climate and Environment, among others, to introduce functionalities into BDO that will enable reliable and effective monitoring of the waste market, including the implementation of tasks in the field of waste prevention and recycling.

It was pointed out that insufficient IT resources had so far been the cause of delays in launching subsequent BDO modules.

Therefore, the MP asks what actions the ministry has taken and intends to take in connection with the negative results of the NIK audit regarding the reduction of waste generation and ensuring its recycling. She also wants to know whether there are plans to increase the financial resources allocated to the service and functioning of the BDO system, so as to increase the effectiveness of this tool.

Deputy Minister of Climate Anita Sowińska informs in response that the Ministry of Climate and Environment is planning two-track activities in 2025-2027:

• regarding the development of the base infrastructure,
• regarding the development of the application layer.

This is intended to increase the efficiency of the BDO system and enable the addition of additional functionalities.

These activities - in accordance with the NIK audit conclusion - are to make BDO a tool for monitoring the waste market , including the implementation of tasks related to waste prevention and recycling.

- writes Anita Sowińska.

The Deputy Minister adds, however, that the level of development of the BDO system will depend on the possibility of obtaining financial resources from sources such as the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management or the European Fund for Digital Development (FERC).

As informed by Anita Sowińska, in order to ensure an appropriate level of financing of tasks related to BDO in the coming years, the latest amendment to the Waste Act provides for an increase in the maximum limit of expenditure from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management allocated to BDO in the years 2025-2027 .

The Act also introduced the possibility of additional financing of the BDO administrator’s tasks from funds intended for the development of digital and ICT projects.

The indicated amounts constitute the maximum limit of NFOŚiGW expenditures for the implementation of tasks related to the BDO system.

According to the provisions of the Waste Act, in 2025 the maximum limit of expenditure on BDO is PLN 35.165 million. However, due to limited funds in the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, this year less than half of this limit is planned to be allocated for tasks related to the BDO system, i.e. approx. PLN 13.650 million.

- explains Sowińska.

The Deputy Minister admits that this will result in the implementation of fewer tasks as part of the development of the BDO system.

As he adds, the ministry is taking action to develop BDO, but the implementation of plans is strictly dependent on available financial resources. Budget constraints have a significant impact on the scope and pace of implementing new functionalities.