Waste Codes for Nail and Beauty Salons in Poland (BDO) - Which to Use and How to Sort

Registering with the BDO waste database is one thing. Using the correct waste classification codes is another matter entirely. A beauty salon generates several types of waste, each with its own classification code. The wrong code on a waste transfer record or an annual report means a fine from the Regional Environmental Inspector (WIOŚ) and the need to correct your documentation.

This article covers the codes that directly apply to nail, brow, and lash salons, explains the sorting rules, and shows you how to correctly manage Waste Transfer Records (KPO) in the BDO system.

The Key Waste Codes for a Beauty Salon

18 01 03* - Waste Containing Live Microorganisms (Hazardous)

The asterisk next to the code means this is hazardous waste. This category includes all materials that came into contact with blood or other bodily fluids:

• Cotton wool and lint pads contaminated with blood (for example, after an accidental nick on a client).
• Disposable gloves contaminated with blood.
• Gauze and non-woven wipes with visible blood.
• Disposable tools that pierced or broke the skin with bleeding.

This waste goes exclusively into a CWO container (yellow with a red lid, tightly sealed). Do not put it in the regular bin or in a bag designated for 18 01 04 waste.

18 01 04 - Waste Without Infectious Properties (No Special Handling Required)

This is the most common waste category in a nail salon. No asterisk means this waste is not biologically hazardous:

• Single-use nail files and file backings with no blood contact.
• Cotton pads and wipes used for degreasing, with no blood.
• Protective film for armrests.
• Disposable gloves with no biological contamination.
• Wooden sticks and single-use spatulas.

This waste goes into a separate container or bag labelled with code 18 01 04. Do not mix it with general municipal waste or with hazardous waste from the 18 01 03* category.

07 02 13 - Plastic Waste

Empty plastic packaging from products that were not classified as hazardous substances:

• Empty gel polish bottles (if emptied and carrying no hazard symbols).
• Packaging from nail conditioners and cuticle oils.
• Plastic containers from base coats and top coats carrying no hazard symbol.

Important: if the packaging carries a hazard symbol (for example, GHS02 flame or GHS07 exclamation mark), the classification changes to hazardous packaging waste (15 01 10*). It does not go into the plastic waste stream.

15 01 10* - Packaging Containing Hazardous Substances (Hazardous)

Packaging bearing a hazard symbol on the label:

• Acetone bottles and acetone-based nail polish remover containers.
• Cyanoacrylate adhesive packaging (lash glue, tip adhesive).
• Containers from disinfectants carrying a hazard symbol on the label (Korsolex, Sekusept, and similar products).
• Primer and dehydrator bottles.
• Brow henna product packaging carrying hazard symbols.

Store this packaging separately and hand it over to a hazardous waste collection point or through a licensed waste collection company holding a permit for hazardous waste.

20 01 99 - Other Municipal Waste

Ordinary office and household waste with no contact with hazardous or biological substances:

• Receipts and cardboard packaging from products with no hazardous substances.
• Food scraps from the break room.
• Ordinary facial tissues.

How to Sort Waste Correctly in the Salon

Physical waste organisation in the salon:

1. CWO container (yellow with red lid, sealed): exclusively for biologically contaminated 18 01 03* waste. Order the container from a licensed medical waste supplier.
2. Separate bag or container for 18 01 04: single-use items with no biological contamination. An ordinary bag is sufficient, but it must be clearly labelled.
3. Hazardous packaging waste container (15 01 10*): a sealed container with labelling, handed over to a collection point or collection company.
4. Municipal waste bin (20 01 99): a standard office bin.

All containers must be labelled with the waste code and a description. A WIOŚ inspector checks container labelling during inspections.

Waste Transfer Record (KPO) in the BDO System

Every transfer of hazardous waste (18 01 03*, 15 01 10*) must be documented with a Waste Transfer Record (KPO) created in the BDO online system (bdo.mos.gov.pl).

How it works in practice:

1. The waste collection company creates the KPO in the BDO system before or at the time of collection.
2. You log in to the BDO system and confirm the KPO after the waste has actually been handed over.
3. The KPO remains in the system as proof of the waste transfer.

Important: if a company collects your waste and does not create a KPO in the BDO system, you are both in violation of the law. Responsibility for correctly documenting the waste transfer rests with the waste producer, which is you. Always ask your collection company for the KPO number after each collection.

Non-hazardous waste (18 01 04, 20 01 99) does not require a KPO, but you must include it in your waste records and annual report.

BDO Annual Report

By 15 March each year you submit a report in the BDO system covering the previous calendar year. The report includes:

• All waste generated, broken down by classification code.
• The quantity of each waste type in kilograms.
• How the waste was handled (handed over to a company, taken to a collection point).

Failing to submit the annual BDO report, or submitting it after the deadline, carries an administrative fine of up to 5,000 PLN. A WIOŚ fine for incorrect record-keeping can be higher.

How to weigh your waste: you do not need laboratory scales. A kitchen or bathroom scale is sufficient: weigh the full container and subtract the tare weight of the container. Record the result at each waste handover.

FAQ: BDO Waste Codes in the Beauty Salon

Are single-use nail files classified as medical waste?

No. Single-use nail files with no blood contact are classified as 18 01 04, not as medical waste (18 01 03*). Medical waste refers only to items that were in contact with blood or other bodily fluids. Files with no biological contamination are non-hazardous waste: 18 01 04. If a file broke the skin and caused bleeding, the classification changes to 18 01 03* and the file goes into the CWO container.

What do I do with a full CWO container?

Hand the full CWO container over to a licensed medical waste collection company. A list of companies holding the required permit is available in the BDO register. Do not hand a full CWO container to an ordinary municipal waste company and do not put it in the general bin. CWO collection is a paid service and requires a KPO to be created in the BDO system.

Do I have to weigh my waste?

Yes. Waste records in the BDO system require you to state the quantity of waste in kilograms. You do not need certified scales, but you do need some method of estimating the weight. The simplest solution: a kitchen or bathroom scale, weighed before handover. For small salons generating small quantities of hazardous waste, the collection company often records the weight on the KPO based on their own weighing. Check that the figures match your own estimate.

How long do I keep KPO records and waste documentation?

Keep waste records and KPO documents for five years from the date the waste was generated. This is a requirement of the Waste Act. In the BDO system, data is archived automatically, but if you use paper documents or printed KPOs, you must physically retain them for five years.