Municipal company in the municipal waste management system in Poland

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of the role of a municipal company as an instrument for implementing municipal own tasks within the municipal waste management system under changing regulatory and economic conditions. The study focused on assessing legally permissible models for entrusting tasks to municipal companies, limits of financing their activities from municipal waste management fees, and the impact of new systemic conditions on the long-term organisational stability of local municipal structures. A multi-stage desk research methodology was applied, including doctrinal legal analysis, review of supervisory and audit practice, and assessment of market conditions together with planned legislative changes. The results indicate that the durability of municipal company involvement depends on consistency between organisational design, legal entrustment mechanisms, transparent cost allocation, and the ability to adapt to changes resulting from the deposit return system and ongoing municipal sector reforms. The growing importance of intermunicipal cooperation models as a stabilising factor for local waste systems was also identified