IT Systems Supporting Waste Management in Municipalities – Research Results

When a new EU directive on municipal waste management was implemented in Poland over 5 years ago, there were practically no IT systems on the market allowing for comprehensive support of this process. Significant changes revealed a number of problems that the municipalities had to face and are facing today, trying to create an integrated system of waste management. IT systems used by municipal units before the amendment of the act have been proved insufficient to be able to efficiently manage the collection of waste from residents. The new regulations significantly influenced, among others, the process of information flow between entities in the waste management system. New participants in the municipal waste management process have been introduced, which from that moment has had to be dealt with by municipal units - the entire organization of the waste collection process and information activities in this area fell on the municipalities. This article presents the results of research on IT systems used in municipalities and its needs in this area. These surveys were carried out using a questionnaire sent to municipalities in the Silesian Voivodeship. Its aim was to identify the features and functions that should be met by the IT system, allowing for comprehensive management of the new municipal waste management system.