Last updated: 18.04.2025
BDO – the Database of Products, Packaging, and Waste Management, is a central IT system created based on the provisions of the Waste Act. Its purpose is to collect and manage information regarding waste management, products, and packaging, aiming to improve oversight and increase transparency and accountability for waste management by companies.
BDO was created in response to growing issues related to improper waste management in Poland, such as illegal waste dumps and irregularities in waste management by businesses. The system’s goal is to combat such practices by enabling electronic monitoring of every stage of waste processing – from its generation, through transport, to recycling or disposal.
This system is a tool that allows for full digitization of the waste management process, greatly facilitating companies’ record-keeping of waste, issuing the necessary documents, and submitting annual reports on products, packaging, and waste.
Does Your Business Need a Waste Catalog in BDO?
According to Polish law, many businesses are required to keep records of their waste. This obligation applies to companies that generate waste other than municipal waste, especially those involved in production or commercial activities. Since January 1, 2021, waste records must be kept exclusively in electronic form within the BDO system.
Previously, entrepreneurs could maintain records in paper form, but now electronic documentation is the only acceptable method. Every company required to keep waste records must maintain a waste catalog and issue waste transfer notes containing detailed data regarding the transportation, the generated waste, and the companies responsible for its collection.
What is BDO Register in Poland?
An integral part of the database is the Register of Entities Introducing Products, Products in Packaging, and Managing Waste.
This register was launched on January 24, 2018, and is maintained by provincial marshals. The entities required to register in the system are primarily companies generating waste, as well as firms introducing packaged products to the market or involved in trading and manufacturing products such as tires, batteries, accumulators, electrical and electronic equipment.
Registering in BDO is a necessary step for businesses to keep waste records and fulfill other obligations arising from the law. Once registered, the entrepreneur receives a unique registration number that must be placed on documents related to waste management.
How Do You Document Hazardous Waste Transfers in BDO?
The BDO system also enables businesses to maintain a detailed waste catalog, which describes the types of waste generated by companies, including hazardous waste, and the rules for its transfer.
Additionally, businesses must issue the appropriate documents related to waste transfers, such as waste transfer notes (KPO), which contain information about the type of waste, weight, the address of the company responsible for transport, and the registration number of the vehicle transporting the waste.
Besides KPO, businesses are required to issue waste record cards (KEO), which confirm the transfer of waste for further management. Other types of record cards include the municipal sewage sludge record card, used electrical and electronic equipment record card, decommissioned vehicle record card, and hazardous waste record card.
Who Must Register in BDO?
The obligation to register in the BDO system applies to a wide range of businesses, including those that:
- generate waste other than municipal waste,
- introduce packaged products to the market,
- manufacture or import packaging, tires, accumulators, batteries, lubricating oils, electrical and electronic equipment.
Exemptions are specified by the Minister of Climate’s regulation of December 23, 2019, which defines the types and quantities of waste for which record-keeping is not required. These include waste not classified as municipal waste, such as packaging waste from bulk packaging, packaging from materials used to provide services, toners, printers, CDs, DVDs, fluorescent lamps, batteries used in offices and shops, expired or non-consumable products, as well as selected construction waste.
Simplified Waste Records
Businesses that generate small amounts of waste (up to 100 kg per year of hazardous waste or up to 5 tons per year of other waste) may keep simplified waste records. Simplified record-keeping allows the elimination of electronic record cards but still requires issuing waste transfer notes.
Registration in the BDO Register in Poland
Registration in the BDO register can be obtained in two ways: by submitting an application independently or by automatic registration by the authorities.
In the first case, the entrepreneur must complete an application and submit it online via the rejestr-bdo.mos.gov.pl service, using a Trusted Profile or e-ID. Upon correctly completing the form, the provincial marshal will register the company within 30 days and assign a unique BDO registration number.
In the second case, registration occurs automatically if the company holds the necessary permits, such as an integrated permit, waste generation permit, or a license for underground waste storage.
The registration process also requires submitting certain documents, depending on the type of business. These may include, for example, contracts with recovery organizations or documents confirming financial security. Additionally, the entrepreneur must pay a registration fee – 100 PLN for micro-enterprises and 300 PLN for other businesses. This fee is annual and must be renewed.
Once registered, the BDO number must be included on documents related to the business, such as invoices, receipts, and waste records.
Can You Operate Legally Without a BDO Number?
Businesses that do not register in the BDO system may face serious legal and financial consequences. Penalties for failure to register range from 5,000 PLN to even 1,000,000 PLN, along with the possibility of imprisonment. Additionally, entrepreneurs who do not properly maintain waste records may be fined, further emphasizing the importance of adhering to waste management regulations.
FAQ – BDO: Waste, Records & Registration Explained
Who must register in the BDO system?
Any company involved in generating non-municipal waste, introducing products with packaging, or processing materials like tires, batteries, electrical and electronic waste must register. This includes businesses handling food waste, electronic waste, or hazardous substances such as lubricants and fluorescent lamps.
What are the consequences of not registering in BDO?
Failure to register in the BDO system can result in fines ranging from 5,000 PLN to 1,000,000 PLN, along with other legal penalties, including detention.
Do all companies need to maintain waste records?
Yes, companies generating non-municipal waste must maintain waste records in the BDO system. The exception is for businesses producing very small amounts of waste, which may use simplified record-keeping.
What documents are required for BDO waste management compliance?
Businesses must issue Waste Transfer Notes (KPO) and Waste Record Cards (KEO) electronically. These documents detail the type of waste produced, its weight, transport information, and more – supporting compliance and efficient waste tracking.
How can I register my business in BDO?
You can register using the BDO online platform with a Trusted Profile or e-ID. If your company already has waste-related permits, such as for underground storage or solid waste treatment, you may be registered automatically.
What is BDO and why is it important for waste disposal and solid waste management?
BDO is a national database that streamlines waste management services by tracking the entire lifecycle of waste – from generation and transport to disposal or recycling. It helps reduce illegal landfills, ensure compliance, and support better handling of hazardous materials and recyclable waste in urban areas.
Are there simplified waste records for small-scale producers?
Yes. If your business generates up to 100 kg of hazardous waste or up to 5 tons of other waste annually, you can use simplified records – skipping the KEO but still issuing waste transfer notes for traceability.
What are the penalties for not registering in the BDO register or not maintaining records properly?
Companies may face fines between 5,000 and 1,000,000 PLN or even imprisonment for failing to comply with BDO registration or electronic record-keeping of waste disposal activities.
What is the purpose of the BDO system in waste management services?
The BDO system is designed to ensure transparency in solid waste management by enabling full digital tracking of waste produced, from collection to disposal or reuse. It combats illegal dumping and ensures companies comply with the law in managing food waste, trash, and garbage.
Can small businesses use simplified waste management processes?
Yes. Businesses that generate less than 100 kg of hazardous waste or 5 tons of other waste annually can use simplified records – they still need to issue waste transfer documents, but are exempt from maintaining digital record cards.
Does the BDO system support environmental goals like reducing waste and pollution?
Yes, by monitoring organic matter, recyclable materials, and waste disposal paths such as composting, anaerobic digestion, incineration, or reuse, BDO contributes to reducing soil and water pollution, supporting sustainability in urban areas, and allowing the combustion process of waste to produce electricity.
How do private companies contribute to global waste management and environmental goals?
Private companies play a key role in waste management customer service, helping both industries and communities dispose of waste responsibly.
By following BDO regulations and improving systems that involve processing materials like plastics, they help minimize pollution and protect the environment – not just locally, but in different countries around the world where similar tracking systems exist. Efficiently managing waste throughout various stages, from collection and sorting to recycling and product lifecycle analysis, is crucial for achieving sustainability and reducing environmental impacts.
Development banks also play a significant role in supporting waste management projects, addressing the increasing costs and challenges of waste management, and emphasizing the need for immediate action from various sectors to implement effective waste reduction strategies and improve management practices.
What is the minimum amount of waste disposal requiring BDO documentation, and how does it support the waste management community?
The minimum amount requiring full documentation in BDO is 100 kg of hazardous waste or 5 tons of other waste annually. This threshold allows smaller generators to still issue waste removal documents while simplifying the burden of digital recordkeeping.
Accurate tracking benefits the community and env by promoting safe disposing practices, protecting accounts of environmental impact, and supporting efforts to conserve energy and public health.
