The authorities of the Mazovia Voivodeship have decided to immediately begin cleanup work in Wołomin, where approximately 22,000 tons of illegally stored waste are located. Nearly 30 million PLN has been secured from the local government's budget for this purpose. Officials are not waiting for funds from the state treasury because the threat to health and nature does not allow for delay. According to information from October 27, 2026, the local government announced a tender for the first stage of the site cleanup. Authorities hope to recover these funds later, as this is a task delegated by the government.
Threat to the environment and people
Approximately 22,000 tons of waste are located at the site. These are not ordinary wastes. Many of them are hazardous. The Provincial Inspectorate for Environmental Protection (WIOŚ) confirmed that the containers are deteriorating increasingly rapidly. Due to leaks, toxic substances have started to seep out. This poses a threat to soil, water, and residents. Ludwik Rakowski, the Chairman of the Sejmik (regional parliament), states that each such case is a serious danger. The effects of contamination can be felt for many years. Therefore, the local government decided on so-called substitute performance (executing the work themselves) rather than waiting for the liable company.
Foreko lost its license
The problem arose due to the company Foreko. In February 2024, the Voivode's Marshal revoked its license for waste collection. This was done following a WIOŚ inspection that found many irregularities. The Marshal also ordered the company to remove the illegally stored waste. A long time has passed, yet the area remains polluted. The waste is still there and poses a threat. Marcin Podsędek, the Deputy Chairman of the Sejmik, emphasizes that those who profited from this should be held accountable. This applies to both those who stored the waste and those who assisted them.
First stage and further fight
The Voivodeship Management Board decided to allocate these funds for the first stage of work. The tender has already been launched. After the completion of operations in Nowy Miszew, where approximately 12,500 tons of waste were removed, it is now time for Wołomin. This was the first such action in the region's history in this format. Councillor Krzysztof Strzałkowski says that the problem is large and affects residents of the entire county. One cannot wait any longer. It is a matter of people's health. The local government is in dialogue with the government and hopes to recover the costs from the state budget, as this is a government task. At the same time, authorities are calling on companies that have their waste at the site to collect it. If they do not do so, the local government will recover the costs from them.