These have all voluntarily submitted themselves to regular, objective and periodic assessment of their environmental impact and have undertaken the obligation to improve their environmental performance on a continuous basis by implementing the environmental management system compliant with the requirements of the Community Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).
The legal basis of the EMAS system in EU countries has been defined in the Regulation No 761/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2001, specifying detailed requirements for environmental management system basing on the requirements of ISO 14001:2004 standard. However, above ISO 14001 requirements, EMAS envisages:
•the obligation of continued improvement of environmental performance by the respective organisation verified regularly by an independent environmental verifier – PERFORMANCE,
• full compliance with the relevant European and national environmental regulations, verified by enforcement authorities – CREDIBILITY,
• the duty to inform the public and all other interested parties on environmental performance and impact through the publication of an independently verified environmental statement – TRANSPARENCY.
EMAS is generally considered as the most credible scheme among currently existing environmental management systems. Organisations registered in EMAS and adhering to its rules belong to an elite group. They are recognised by the EMAS logo, which guarantees reliability of the information provided.
The number of EMAS registered organisations has increased considerably in recent years. More than 4000 organisations from all over Europe have been registered by now. About 1 million employees work in EMAS registered organisations.
EMAS entities are entitled to a wide range of benefits and incentives offered by governments such as:
• less objections during permitting procedures,
• streamlined reporting and monitoring requirements,
• lower frequency of inspections,
• opportunities in market for green products,
• financial support (subsidies, funds for implementing EMAS standards, tax reliefs, reduced registration fees),
• offer of pilot projects and trainings.
More information on EMAS scheme is available on the following websites:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/emas/index_en.htm
www.emas.mos.gov.pl

Małgorzata Wybacz
Polish Ministry of the Environment
emas@mos.gov.pl

The following Polish organisations
have joined EMAS:

Trzebinia Municipality is the first Polish local authority which has implemented the Community Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) in one of its units and has been registered under the scheme.

Trzebinia is situated on the Silesian-Cracovian Plateau in the southern part of Poland. The commune includes the town of Trzebinia, its territory is populated by approximately 34 000 inhabitants. The complex network of roads round the city and convenient train connections make the town a very important junction providing good public transport.

The idea to implement EMAS occurred during the participation of the Trzebinia Municipal Office in the 3-year EU Life funded NEST Project „Networking with EMAS for Sustainable Development”. The project, involving 11 municipalities across 4 European countries, aimed to deliver a verified eco-management and audit scheme to local authorities. Among 3 Polish local authorities taking part in NEST project, only Trzebinia managed to reach the expected objective of the project.

Implementation of EMAS scheme
EMAS has been implemented in the Department of Municipal Economy, Environmental Protection, Agriculture and Forestry (MEEPAF) of Trzebinia Municipal Office. That Department responsible for cleanliness and order in the municipality as well as for environmental protection and housing management.

The implementation process of the EMAS scheme began with a review of all activities undertaken by the Department. It was one of the most important parts of that process. It allowed to identify all aspects of the Department’s activities, products or services and to evaluate their impact on the environment. The results of that analysis formed the basis for the elaboration of the Environmental Policy of the Municipality, setting objectives and targets, among others the reduction of CO2 emissions, decreasing the amount of waste directed to the landfill site, increasing the amount of segregated wastes, decreasing the amount of untreated sewage and increasing environmental awarness.

Achived results
Recent accomplishments in environmental management, in its direct and indirect aspects, have been achieved through:
- broadly conceived selective waste collection for the last 3 years (including hazardous wastes),
- collecting asbestos wastes since 2005 (26% increase in the amount of disposed waste in period 2005-2006),
- co-financing scheme for construction of home sewage treatment plants (68% increase in the amount of implemented projects in period 2005-2006) and successful application for Structural Funds for the development of a sewage system
- grant scheme for subsidizing the application of ecological heating systems to minimize air pollution caused by what is known as “low emission” (82% increase in the amount of implemented projects in the 2005-2006 period)
- thermo modernization of municipal sites (kinder garden, community centre, two health centres, two fire brigade buildings)
- ecological education through co-operation with educational, cultural institutions, NGOs (giving presentations, organizing contests and trips; preparation and printing of ecological publications, leaflets; creating nature and educational trails)

Future activities of the EMAS registered unit will concentrate on the continuation and development of existing undertakings.

The experiences and achievements of the Trzebinia Municipal Office concerning the implementation of the Community Eco-Management and Audit Scheme were presented on the European forum during 5th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns in Seville in 2007.

Environmental statement available on: www.trzebinia.pl.
For more detailed information please contact:

Aleksandra Sobecka
Trzebinia Municipal Office
+48 32 612 14 96
e-mail: ochrona.srodowiska@um.trzebinia.pl