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MAZOVIA Regional Studies issue 52

Ladies and gentlemen,

We cordially invite you to read the issue 52 of the periodical MAZOVIA Regional Studies.

The issue opens up with the article on waste generated in the manufacturing of cosmetic products. The Authors present ways of recovering materials or obtaining energy from non-hazardous waste as well as processes for the disposal of this waste, which contains substances or elements hazardous to humans and animals.

The subject of the subsequent article is the role of the economic account in business activities planning. By way of an example of hemp cultivation, the Author proves that the correct determination of revenue and costs is as important as the identification of the demand and the opportunity to achieve sales targets. The text highlights the advantages of cooperation within clusters and agricultural cooperatives as a way of achieving so-called economies of scale.

The third article, addressing the problem of the interaction between external conditions and the investor’s guidelines and the final design outcome, is a case study described by practising landscape architects. The Authors show how the analysis and synthesis of data obtained at the initial step influence the design process and how factors beyond the designer’s control determine and ultimately shape the solutions adopted for land use.

In comparison with similarly sized cities, the area of the allotments in Radom is very small, which prompted the Author of the next article to consider the possibilities of developing allotment sites in this city. After analysing the conditions arising from spatial, communicational and ownership-related documents, the Author presents a proposal for the location of a new allotment site, defines the conditions for the opportunity to enlarge the existing one and indicates ways to improve the accessibility of the allotment sites for citizens.

A summary of the initial period of operation of the Warsaw-Radom Airport is worth reading. The Author undertakes to explain the reasons for the airport’s poor performance and considers its development prospects. The text becomes particularly meaningful in the context of the ongoing dispute in the public space about the sense of building more airports, including the Central Transport Port.

The issue closes with a report from a study visit to the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona on urban innovation as well as from the DeCoInter Kick Off Meeting, where a project for the energy transition of coastal regions through the use of renewable energy sources and green fuels was presented.

We wish you an enjoyable reading experience.

In the issue, among others:

Waste management. Cosmetic products and their waste The role of economic analysis in business activities planning by means of the example of hemp cultivation The interaction between selected factors influencing the design and its final shape – a case study Conditions and possibilities of development of allotment sites in Radom

Report on the Mazowieckiego Forum Społeczności Energetycznych 2025

On February 17, 2025, representatives of the Mazovian Office of Regional Planning participated in the Mazovian Energy Communities Forum in Warsaw, organized under the patronage of the Marshal of the Mazovian Voivodeship, Mr. Adam Struzik, and the XOOG Energy Clusters P.S.A. energy group. The event gathered representatives of local governments, industry experts, government agencies, and the scientific and business sectors. The meeting focused on energy transition, distributed energy and the challenges local municipal units face to improve energy mix. Among the key priorities of forum was introducing the planned Mazovian Instrument for Supporting Energy Communities.

The forum was opened by the Marshal of the Mazovian Voivodeship, Adam Struzik, the Vice President of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management , Józef Matysiak, and the President of the Bank for Environmental Protection (Bank Ochrony Środowiska S.A.), Bartosz Kublik. The speeches emphasized that meeting the energy transition is a challenge that requires interdisciplinary cooperation at the local level. Due to the current geopolitical issues, European and national climate and energy policies changes, new technological trends, and evolving social attitudes, the role of local energy communities has increased. Marshal Adam Struzik highlighted that energy efficiency measures at the local level is crucial for the energy transition process and one of the goals of the „Development Strategy of the Mazowieckie Voivodship 2030+. Mazovia as on Innovative Region”.

The Marshal’s Plenipotentiary for Investment and Economic Affairs, Mr. Mariusz Rukat, presented the assumptions of the Mazovian Instrument for Supporting Energy Communities . The program aims to support organizational and technological processes related to developing local renewable energy sources, including balancing, producing, and storing electricity at the municipal level in the Mazovian Voivodeship. The Mazovian Voivodeship government allocated PLN 5 million to support initiatives improving energy security, combating energy poverty through energy price stabilization, and sustainable management of natural resources. The funds, provided as grants, will support the development of local energy clusters and energy cooperatives. The instrument will be launched in the second quarter of 2025.

During the forum, the Mazovian Voivodeship Government and the Bank Ochrony Środowiska S.A. announced a strategic partnership to support the energy transition. The agreement will facilitate access to financial resources necessary for implementing pro-ecological solutions in the local energy sector.

The event featured two discussion panels. The key discussion topics included energy security and the transformation of the energy sector. The first panel focused on the organizational challenges and needs of local governments regarding distributed energy. Panelists discussed how energy communities can support decentralized systems to improve local energy security and reduce energy costs. Experts emphasized the urgent need to simplify administrative procedures and support local energy communities and enterprises. Local governments face challenges related to structural constraints (take-up of the electricity by Distribution System Operator). Additionally, expanding specialized knowledge on energy management and trading, particularly in the field of renewable energy sources, is necessary within local government structures. A transparent and stable legislative system supporting investors and energy cluster members was also identified as crucial for effectively implementing projects that promote the development of energy communities.

The second discussion panel addressed legislative, technological, and financial aspects of local energy systems. The primary discussion topic was funding and financing opportunities for renewable energy investments. Panelists highlighted the significant role of biogas, biomethane, and hydrogen technologies in improving energy security. Modern renewable energy-based technologies, electrification, and energy storage solutions were also presented as means to support the transition of local energy systems towards zero-emission solutions. Funding sources were discussed, emphasizing the need for a thorough analysis of local governments’ needs and proper investment planning to prevent projects from being tailored to available funds rather than the real energy needs of the respective communities.

The Mazovian Energy Communities Forum underscored the importance of cross-sector cooperation and the necessity of a stable legislative environment for developing renewable energy sources. Key challenges include optimizing energy cluster and energy cooperatives, measuring energy efficiency, storing energy, and securing funding for local projects. Strengthening the role of local governments and their collaboration with the scientific and industrial sectors can accelerate the energy transition, leading to a more efficient and sustainable energy system in Poland.

Bicycle infrastructure standards and bicycle route concept

Bicycle infrastructure standards and concept of bicycle routes of the province adopted by the Board of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship.

The Board of the Mazovian Voivodeship, mindful of the need to implement a coherent network of functional bicycle infrastructure within the voivodeship, adopted the following on June 28. Bicycle infrastructure standardsand the concept of bicycle routes indicated for implementation in the perspective until 2030 in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. The document was prepared by the Mazovian Regional Planning Office in Warsaw.

The standards specify the conditions for effective planning, design and execution of bicycle infrastructure. They are based on examples of good practice and an analysis of problems faced by bicycle traffic in Poland.

The document also implements the provisions of the Spatial Development Plan of the Mazovian Voivodeship, which preliminarily defined a backbone network of bicycle routes based on routes of international, supra-regional and regional scope. In the Concept of bicycle routes indicated for implementationin the perspective until 2030, the routes providing connections of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship with routes of international and supra-regional range, as well as service to Warsaw and all sub-regional centers were detailed.and all sub-regional centers.

The standards should be attached to the specification of essential terms of the contract (ToR) in ordersand contracts for preparatory and construction works affecting cycling conditions in the province. This applies both to investments implemented by the Mazowieckie Voivodeship Self-Governmentand its subordinate units (such as the Mazovian Voivodeship Road Administration), as well as those implemented with the support of funds distributed by the Voivodeship Government, including European Funds for Mazovia. Thus, compliance with the Standards should be ensured in the case of investments in infrastructure for cyclists financed with funds at the disposal of the Mazovian Voivodeship.

The Standards apply to: construction and reconstruction of bicycle routes and their components, including roads for bicycles, pedestrian and bicycle trails, roads without separate bicycle infrastructure and pedestrian areas with permitted bicycle traffic, as well as traffic lights and engineering facilities – footbridges, tunnels and bridges. It is recommended that the Standards be applied during railroad and embankment projects, infrastructure with high potential for bicycle routes.

Due to the universal nature of the Standards, they can also be used by municipalities and counties of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship as guidelines for the design and construction of bicycle infrastructure not co-financed by the voivodeship government. For this purpose, they will be provided to all local government units in the province.

Bicycle infrastructure standards and the concept of bicycle routes indicated for implementation in the perspective until 2030 in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship are available in electronic version as an attachment to Resolution 1100/333/22 of the Board of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and on the website of the Mazowieckie Regional Planning Office. You will soon be able to get acquainted with the course of the routes in the “Geoportal – Integrated monitoring of spatial development of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship” tab.

Change Mazovia with us

Voting in the Mazovia Citizens’ Budget begins on Wednesday, June 8. It will be the residents of the capital and surrounding areas who will decide which projects will be implemented.The Mazovian local government has allocated PLN 25 million for the implementation of the winning projects.

Among the projects selected for voting are educational and artistic workshops for childrenand adults, construction of bicycle paths, preventive training in improving driving techniques, purchase of ambulances and hospital equipment, modernization of sidewalks and many others.

The deadline for voting is June 30.

Mazovian residents can choose from 174 projects qualified for voting.

47 projects from the province-wide pool27 projects with positive evaluation from the Radom subregion21 projects with positive evaluation from the Plock subregion17 projects with positive evaluation from the Siedlce subregion16 projects with a positive evaluation from the Warsaw West subregion13 projects with a positive evaluation from the Ciechanów subregion11 projects with positive evaluation from the eastern Warsaw subregion9 projects with positive evaluation from the Ostroleka subregion8 projects with positive evaluation from the Zyrardowski subregion5 projects with positive evaluation from Warsaw

A list of projects eligible for voting on the Mazovia Citizens’ Budget website.

More information on the page of the Civic Budget of Mazovia.

Change in the provisions of the Anti-smog Resolution for Mazovia

Clean air in Mazovia is our common goal, the achievement of which will undoubtedly be accelerated by the amendment of the provisions of the current anti-smog resolution adopted by the Mazovian Regional Parliament. The amendment introduces a ban on burning coal in Warsaw starting in October 2023. In turn, at the beginning of 2028, the provision will also come into force in the counties of the suburban “ring road”.

What will change?

The most important changes relate primarily to:

The resolution’s introduction of a ban on hard coal and solid fuels produced using it:

as of October 1, 2023, within the administrative boundaries of the city of Warsaw;As of January 1, 2028, within the administrative boundaries of municipalities comprising the districts of Grodzisk, Legionowo, Minsk, Novodworski, Piaseczynski, Pruszkowski, Otwock, Warsaw West and Wołomin.

Introduce a ban on the operation of solid fuel (including biomass) boilers in newly constructed buildings for which an application for a building permit or notification was submitted after January 1, 2023, if there is a technical possibility of connecting the building to a district heating network, which is located in the area directly adjacent to the investor’s plot on which the installation is located.Introduce exemptions in the resolution for coal-fired boilers operated within the boundaries of counties located in the NUTS2 area – Warsaw Capital Region – coal-fired boilers installed before June 1, 2022 will be allowed to operate until the end of their useful life.Leave the possibility of using class 5 coal boilers until the end of their life.

All additional information on the current anti-smog resolution and its amendments can be found on the Mazovia website under the “Anti-smog Resolution” tab.

Attention contest! Start from Mazovia – 4th edition

This is the fourth edition of the “Start from Mazovia” competition, aimed at Mazovian start-ups that create innovative ideas and products and have been operating for no longer than 3 years. Companies that take partin the competition have a chance to win prizes with a total value of PLN 90,000, as well as gain valuable contacts, promote their ideas through various communication channels and publicity in industry media.

Who can apply to “Startup from Mazovia”?

The competition is dedicated to start-ups registered in the Mazovia province and operating no longer than 3 years from the date of the competition announcement.The competition is decided in the following categories:

INNO-TECH – for start-ups that create new products and processes and significant technological changesin products and processes, including product, process, system innovations; for a start-up in the growth phase at the sales stage;SOCIAL IMPACT – for a start-up with a positive environmental or social impact, regardless of the stage of development;START – for a start-up that creates an innovative project that is at the Minimum Value Product or prototype stage, which is likely to grow and scale effectively.

What does participation in the competition provide?

Assistance in development and, above all, financial support at the beginning of the business road is the dream of many entrepreneurs. Participation in the Mazovian competition gives much more! The total prize pool is PLN 90,000, and additionally it is also a chance to win special prizes from the competition’s Partners, including: substantive consultations related to business development and raising financing, the opportunity to participate inin training and mentoring programs, or presentation before a group of investors. Startups can also count on gaining business contacts, promotion of their idea in the media or a professional photo session.

Cross visit of Partners from Slovenia to Mazovia region within YouInHerit project

The cross visit of the Project Partners from Slovenia to Mazovia region took place on 15-16th June 2018. On Friday 15th June there was a meeting with the Regional Stakeholder Group in the Centre of Culture and Art in Sierpc. Its aim was the exchange of the experiences between the Project Partners and presentation of the part of the cultural heritage of Mazovia region. During the meeting a lecture on the history of the brewery in Sierpc took place, followed then by the discussion on how to involve youth in cultural heritage and craft. After the meeting the guests could visit the Muzeum of Mazovian Countryside in Sierpc. On Saturday 16th June the visit continue including participation in the I Festival of Home Brewers in Warsaw. During the Festival project YouInHerti was presented. There was a project stand, where the detailed information on the project was given and some thematic competitions held. The participants of the Festival could know better the traditional methods of brewing, presented by the best experts in this field. They could also listen to thematic lectures related to YouInHerit project and vote for the best project and the best festival stand.

Cross visit of Partners from Slovenia to Mazovia

Cross visit of Partners from Slovenia to Mazovia
Cross visit of Partners from Slovenia to Mazovia – gallery

Trainings in Sierpc–implementation of the Pilot Action in YouInHerit project

The second edition of trainings related to the implementation of the Pilot Action within the YouInHerit project, entitled Practical aspects of traditional beer brewing. Interpersonal skills. Public Speeches, took place in Sierpc on 25-26th April 2018. They were attended by representatives of local institutions: the mayor of Sierpc Jarosław Perzyński, employees of the City Hall in Sierpc, the County Office in Sierpc, representatives of the Voivodship Labour Office of the Branch Office in Płock, The Municipal Public Library named after Zofia Nałkowska in Sierpc, The Department of Documentation of the history of Sierpc, The Museum of the Mazovian Countryside in Sierpc, students and teachers of the Complex of Schools of The Agricultural Training Centre in Studzieniec and employees of The Mazovian Office for Regional Planning in Warsaw and of the Regional Branches.

The aim of the trainings is to improve the cooperation between territorial government units and labour offices and to increase the competence of the staff of local institutions in the field of cultural heritage knowledge, in order to effectively involve young people in the search for new solutions beneficial for their local communities.

During the meeting a presentation of the assumptions, objectives and pilot action of YouInHerit project was made, followed by workshops conducted by Kontekst HR Polska Sp. z o.o., during which participants, learning the rules of public speaking, improved their interpersonal skills during practical exercises in self-presentation.

On the second day of the meeting, traditional brewing workshops were held by members of the Polish Home Brewers Association – experts in traditional brewing. The practical part was supplemented by lectures on the history of brewing and the brewing process.

The workshops were highly evaluated and the participants expressed their willingness to participate in the next edition of the trainings in May.

Trainings in Sierpc

Trainings in Sierpc
Trainings in Sierpc – gallery