Currently, the SENT system in Poland (Electronic Transport Supervision System) was originally introduced in 2017 to register transport of goods such as chemicals, fuels and tobacco, and is primarily a tool to increase tax revenues and reduce crime. From the 1st. February this year, the system is also made mandatory for the transport of waste, both to and in transit through Poland. This includes all waste covered by the Waste Shipment Regulation, EU 1013/2006.
All industry players involved in the transaction of waste to or in transit through Poland will have to comply to the new regulations, explains Account and TFS-manager in Geminor Poland, Wojciech Oset.
âCompanies dealing with transfrontier waste shipments will be obligated to register each shipment of waste via the electronic PUESC platform of the Polish Ministry of Finance, which will be implemented through the SENT module offered within the PentaTAX Platform. â
âWhen it comes to import of waste to Poland, the entity responsible for registering the transport is the consignee. However, in the case of transit through Poland, the registration is to be made by the transporter. In addition to the registration of the waste transport, the transporter is required to provide geolocation data and the driver will have a reference number and active locatorâ, says Oset.
According to the Polish authorities, the purpose of the SENT initiative is to tighten the waste management market and to prevent illegal waste shipments. The Polish Ministry of Climate believes that the new solution also will have a positive impact on the competitiveness of the waste management market, bringing common rules to the industry.
Breach of the SENT registration of waste shipments will also be penalized with significant fines: If a transport is not reported correctly in SENT, a fine will be given calculated at 46 percent of the gross value of the transported goods, and never less than Euro 4 350. A report not updated by carrier prior to transport may be fined by at least Euro 2 200.
âThe Polish authorities want more control of shipments and are sending a signal that they are taking the fight on environmental crime seriously. This is yet another regulation which in addition to the coming upgrade of the Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) will reduce transfrontier waste crime, but also increase the complexity of waste management in Europeâ, concludes Account and TFS-manager in Geminor Poland, Wojciech Oset.
According to the the Q&A Section there is an exemption to register transit of waste shipments in SENT:
Point 8.2
https://puesc.gov.pl/faq/-/categories/645850213#:~:text=08.02.%20Is%20each%20transport%20of%20waste%20subject%20to%20notification%20to%20the%20SENT%20register%3F
Exceptions are transports of waste placed under the customs procedure of transit] as well as
transports of waste destined for recovery, the amount of which in the consignment does not
exceed 20 kg (this is referred to in Article 3(2) of the above-mentioned EC Regulation).