What should you do after using the product?

HANDLING POL-MAK PRODUCTS AFTER USE

At POL-MAK, we pay attention to the responsible use of raw materials and the options available for handling products and packaging after use. Selected products contain materials from appropriately certified sources.

How waste should be handled depends on its composition, coatings, degree of contamination and local waste separation rules. Below, we explain how to handle the different groups of POL-MAK products in Poland.

BEFORE YOU THROW IT AWAY - REUSE IT

Clean products and packaging that remain suitable for use can be reused. Decorative napkins, wrapping papers, table covers and cartons can serve as:

decorative elements,
materials for arts and crafts,
protective pads,
surface protection during small household projects.

Products that are dirty or have come into contact with food should only be reused if their condition and intended purpose allow it.

HOW TO HANDLE POL-MAK PRODUCTS AFTER USE

DECORATIVE NAPKINS

Napkins are made from tissue paper and printed with water-based inks.

Clean, unused paper napkins without plastic coatings → blue bin (paper), provided that the local collection system accepts this type of paper.
Used napkins contaminated with food, grease or other substances → mixed waste, unless another disposal option is available for the specific product.
Napkins covered by OK compost HOME certification → may be composted at home, in accordance with the certification scope and proper composting practices.

OK compost HOME certification applies to specific product variants, not all POL-MAK napkins. It also does not automatically mean that a product can be placed in the brown bin for biowaste.

Before composting, remove foreign materials and larger food residues. Products heavily contaminated with grease, meat or chemicals are not recommended for home composting.

PAPER PLATES / TRAYS

Clean paper plates and trays without coatings that hinder recycling → blue bin (paper), in accordance with local rules.
Printed products that are clean and do not have such coatings → whether they can be collected with paper depends on their composition.
Plates and trays heavily contaminated with food or grease → mixed waste, unless another disposal method is available.
Selected plates covered by valid home compostability certification → may be composted under the conditions specified by the relevant certification scheme.

Not all paper plates and trays have the same properties. Information about products covered by OK compost HOME or DIN CERTCO certification is available on our Certificates page.

PAPER CUPS

Paper cups may contain a barrier coating that prevents liquids from penetrating the material. The type of coating affects the available material recovery options.

Cups with a protective coating → should not automatically be placed in the paper recycling bin.
Empty cups → should be separated according to local rules for this type of packaging.
Cups for which the local system does not provide separate collection → mixed waste.

If a municipality operates a collection system for coated cups or multi-material packaging, follow its instructions.

PAPER TABLE COVERS

Clean, dry paper table covers without coatings that hinder recycling → blue bin (paper).
Table covers heavily contaminated with food or grease → mixed waste.

PAPER BAGS

Clean paper bags without plastic coatings or finishes → blue bin (paper).
Bags with removable decorations → separate ribbons, decorative elements and other accessories made from different materials before disposal.
Laminated bags or bags with metallised coatings → should not automatically be placed in the paper recycling bin. Check local waste separation rules.
Decorative elements → separate according to their materials and local rules.

Small decorations do not necessarily mean that the entire bag must be disposed of as mixed waste. Separate the different materials whenever possible.

GIFT WRAPPING PAPERS

Clean, uncoated gift wrapping paper, including kraft paper → blue bin (paper).
Printed paper without coatings that hinder recycling → can generally be collected with paper.
Paper laminated with film, heavily varnished or metallised → should not be placed in the blue bin. Follow local waste separation instructions.

Printing alone does not mean that paper cannot be recycled.

CELLOPHANE WRAPPING FILM

How film should be separated depends on its material composition.

Film made from polypropylene (PP, material code 5) → after emptying, place in the yellow bin for plastics and metals.
Film with ribbons, decorations or other accessories → separate these elements and dispose of them according to their material.
Heavily contaminated film that cannot be emptied of residues → mixed waste.

Small amounts of adhesive or remaining labels do not automatically prevent film from being collected separately.

GREETING CARDS AND INVITATIONS

Cards made from paper without plastic coatings → blue bin (paper).
Cards with removable decorations → remove the decorations and separate the remaining components by material.
Cards permanently laminated with plastic film or containing decorative elements that cannot be separated → check local waste separation rules. If they are not accepted for separate collection, dispose of them as mixed waste.

ENVELOPES, INCLUDING WITH GRASS FIBRES

Clean paper envelopes without plastic coatings → blue bin (paper).
Envelopes containing additional elements made from other materials → separate these elements whenever possible.

The addition of plant fibres does not automatically mean that an envelope cannot be recycled with paper.

PAPER FOLDERS WITH ELASTIC BAND

Clean, unlaminated paper folders → remove the elastic band and place the paper part in the blue bin.
Laminated folders → the appropriate disposal method depends on the type of coating and local rules.
Elastic bands and additional elements → separate according to their material composition.

TISSUE PAPER

Clean, dry tissue paper without additional coatings → blue bin (paper).
Tissue paper heavily contaminated with food, grease or other substances → mixed waste.
Clean tissue paper offcuts from arts and crafts, without tape or other accessories → blue bin (paper).

Brief exposure of clean paper to moisture does not necessarily mean permanent contamination. However, paper should be dry when placed in a separate paper collection bin.

Z-FOLD PAPER TOWELS

Used paper towels, including those that have come into contact with water → mixed waste, unless local rules provide otherwise.
Paper towels contaminated with cosmetics, food or grease → mixed waste.
Clean paper or cardboard packaging → blue bin (paper).
Plastic film packaging for towels → yellow bin after emptying.

Used paper towels should not be treated in the same way as clean paper packaging.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WITH PRODUCT PACKAGING?

INDIVIDUAL FILMS AND SHRINK WRAP (PP 5)

Empty plastic packaging films, including PP → yellow bin.
Films containing small amounts of product residue → empty the packaging and separate it according to local rules; thorough washing is generally unnecessary.
Heavily contaminated films that cannot be emptied → mixed waste.

Whether packaging can be recycled depends, among other things, on its composition, condition and the technologies used by the waste management system.

OUTER CARDBOARD PACKAGING

Clean, dry cardboard boxes → blue bin (paper).
Packaging films and plastic protective elements → yellow bin.
Paper-based fillers → blue bin, provided they are clean.
Fillers made from other materials → separate according to their material.
Larger pieces of tape and plastic film → remove from cardboard whenever possible.

It is not necessary to remove every small label from a cardboard box, particularly if doing so would damage the packaging.

REUSING CARTONS FOR B2B CUSTOMERS

Outer cardboard packaging that remains in suitable condition can be reused as:

storage containers for order picking,
protective dividers for shipments,
transport packaging, subject to hygiene requirements,
organisers for office supplies,
surface protection during technical work.

Reusing cartons can reduce the need for new packaging and the amount of waste generated.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Proper handling of products after use helps increase the amount of material sent for recycling, reduce contamination of separately collected waste streams and support material reuse.

However, not every paper product can be handled in the same way. Its actual composition, protective coatings, degree of contamination and available processing methods all matter.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The guidance above applies to handling POL-MAK products in Poland.

Always follow the waste separation rules applicable in your municipality. Local systems may differ in how they collect and process particular types of waste.

Important: Certification of a product as home compostable does not automatically mean that it can be placed in the brown biowaste bin.

Information about the certification scope of selected POL-MAK products is available on our Certificates page.

Questions?

csr(at)pol-mak.com.pl