Environmental protection and waste management
This page explains how we manage waste: the legal basis for collecting, treating, transporting and shipping it abroad, how we keep records in BDO, and where our responsibilities end and those of the party transferring the waste begin.We base each piece of information on a document: an administrative permit, a BDO register entry or a certificate.
Our waste management activities
We accept ferrous and non-ferrous metal waste, including cables and wires. See our branch pages for addresses, contact details and accepted materials. Selected branches also accept paper and cardboard waste.
We carry out four activities regulated by waste legislation:
- Waste collection at our branches, within the permit scope for each location.
- Waste treatment exclusively at our Otwock branch, through R4, R12 and R13 operations.
- Waste transport under our BDO registration.
- Cross-border waste shipments under Regulation (EU) 2024/1157.
We only accept waste codes and quantities covered by the permit for the location concerned. Before delivery, check with your chosen branch whether it can accept your waste code.
Locations and permits
Authorisation to collect and treat waste comes from permits issued separately for each location.
The Warsaw headquarters at Syta 114 Z/1 is an office and does not accept waste.
We transport waste under BDO registration number 000000341. You can check our entry in the public BDO register.
Copies of permits are available on request.
Collected, treated and recycled: what these terms mean in our operations
These terms have different legal meanings. We use them exclusively in the meanings set out below.
Collected
At branches carrying out collection, we gather waste before transport to treatment facilities. Collection includes preliminary sorting that does not change the waste classification.
Treated
Treatment takes place exclusively in Otwock, through the following operations:
- R4: recycling or reclamation of metals and metal compounds.
- R12: preliminary treatment before recovery, within the scope of the permit.
- R13: storage of waste pending recovery operations R1-R12.
Recycled by ODYLION
Exclusively in Otwock, through the R4 operation.
Transferred to recipients for treatment
Waste collected at other branches is transferred for treatment to authorised entities in Poland and abroad. The recipient carries out recycling, not ODYLION. Transfer alone does not mean the waste has already been recycled.
Disposed of
We do not carry out waste disposal.
End-of-waste status
Some metal waste ceases to be waste after R4 treatment in Otwock if it meets the criteria in Council Regulation (EU) No 333/2011 (iron, steel and aluminium scrap) or Commission Regulation (EU) No 715/2013 (copper scrap). We issue a statement of conformity for each such consignment.
Waste records and BDO
BDO registration number: 000000341. We keep waste records in BDO using the waste catalogue.
Waste transfer note (KPO)
Where a transfer is subject to record-keeping requirements, the procedure is:
- The transferor creates a KPO in BDO before transport begins and specifies the waste code.
- The driver carries the confirmation generated from BDO during transport.
- On receipt, we check whether the waste matches the KPO code and weigh it on verified scales.
- We confirm receipt and the actual weight in BDO. The transferor can see the confirmation in their BDO account.
- If the waste does not match the KPO code, we do not confirm receipt against that note. We reject it in BDO with a reason and agree the next steps with the transferor.
Not every transfer requires a KPO. Documentation depends on the supplier's status and the waste type and quantity. For example, a private individual who does not run a business does not create a KPO. If in doubt, ask your chosen branch before delivery.
Waste record sheet (KEO) and annual report
We keep a separate KEO in BDO for each waste type.
Using these records, we submit the annual report on waste generation and management in BDO by 15 March for the preceding year.
Responsibilities: what we do and what we do not do
What we do
We check whether incoming waste matches the code stated in the KPO.
We assume responsibility for waste management when waste is handed over to us at a location for which we hold the required permit (Article 27(3) of the Polish Waste Act). Special rules for hazardous waste are explained below.
We transfer waste only to authorised entities: in Poland under Article 27(2) of the Waste Act, and abroad under Regulation (EU) 2024/1157.
What we do not do
We do not prepare KPO notes on the transferor's behalf. This is the transferor's responsibility.
We do not keep records or submit reports on behalf of the waste producer. Producers subject to these obligations keep their own BDO records.
We do not carry out waste disposal.
Responsibilities retained by the transferor
The transferor specifies the waste code in the KPO. If the waste does not match it, we reject the note in BDO with a reason and agree the next steps with the transferor.
A hazardous waste producer is released from responsibility only after the waste is transferred for final recovery or disposal, subject to the statutory exceptions (Article 27(3b) of the Waste Act). Transfer to a collection point alone does not end that responsibility.
Handing waste to another carrier does not release the transferor from responsibility until the next authorised holder assumes it (Article 27(4) of the Waste Act).
Cross-border waste shipments
We ship green-listed waste, including metal scrap and waste paper, abroad for recovery under a contract with the recipient and the document in Annex VII to Regulation (EU) 2024/1157. We ship this waste to non-OECD countries only to the extent permitted for the country and waste code: until 21 May 2027 under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1418/2007, and from that date only to countries on the Commission list referred to in Article 41 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1157.
From 1 January 2027, we handle green-listed waste shipments through the EU's DIWASS electronic system.
Where prior written notification and consent are required, we ship waste only after the competent authorities have given their consent.
ISO 14001 certificate
The ISO 14001:2015 certificate concerns the environmental management system. The scope and validity period stated in the document appear below. Check the certificates page for its current status.
The document names the Warsaw headquarters and the Otwock branch. It does not cover other locations. We carry out R4 recycling exclusively in Otwock.
The certificate confirms that the environmental management system conforms to the standard. It is neither an assessment of environmental performance nor authorisation to manage waste. Such authorisation comes from administrative permits. Maintaining certification requires successful surveillance audits in subsequent years.
Check certificate scope and validityISO 14001:2015
- Certificate number
- 4805829
- Validity period stated in the document
- -
- Scope stated in the certificate
- Recycling, purchase, and sale of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
- Entity and headquarters
- Odylion sp. z o.o. sp.k.
Syta 114 Z/1, 02-987 Warszawa - Branch covered by the document
- Kraszewskiego 2A, 05-400 Otwock
- Certification body
- LL-C (Certification) Czech Republic a.s.
- Verification in IAF CertSearch
- IAF CertSearch
4805829/1-1-12
Legislation we apply
- Polish Waste Act of 14 December 2012: waste collection, treatment and transport, BDO records and responsibility for waste management.
- Regulation of the Polish Minister of Climate of 2 January 2020 on the waste catalogue: waste classification and codes.
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on shipments of waste: cross-border waste shipments.
- Administrative permits and BDO registration: the scope of operations at individual locations.
Useful resources and contact
- BDO register: check the registration of an entity to which you transfer waste.
- Waste codes: the waste catalogue with an explanation of how codes are structured.
- Green-listed waste shipments (GIOŚ): rules for shipping scrap and waste paper abroad.
- GOZ 2030 (initiated by Kampania 17 Celów): circular economy publications for businesses, including “30/2030. 30 Strategii dla biznesu do roku 2030”. Downloading requires completing a form.
External links lead to other publishers' websites. Those publishers are responsible for their content.
Questions about documents, BDO and permits
Kasjana Kanclerska
Environmental & ESG Compliance
This page describes our procedures and does not constitute legal advice.