A visit to a waste collection centre (PSZOK) can now include a trip into the past. Gratowisko Poznań Wschód on ul. Wrzesińska 12 is home to a new Ecomuseum featuring household objects donated by Poznań residents.
Created by the Poznań Municipal Waste Management Department (ZZO), the collection brings together items that were once part of everyday life in Polish homes.
Among the exhibits is the familiar Frania washing machine, alongside old crank telephones, cameras, radios, irons, washing powder packaging, newspapers and other household objects.
For some visitors, the display will be a reminder of equipment used by their parents or grandparents, and for younger generations, it offers a glimpse of how quickly domestic technology has changed.
Objects donated by Poznań residents
The Ecomuseum's collection has a distinctly local connection. According to ZZO, the exhibits were supplied by residents who chose to give unwanted objects a new purpose.
The result is a small collection of everyday history rather than a display of rare museum pieces. Items that might otherwise have been discarded now illustrate changing household habits, technology and lifestyles.
What can you take to Gratowisko?
The Ecomuseum is an addition to the site, which continues to operate as a PSZOK, or Punkt Selektywnego Zbierania Odpadów Komunalnych.
Residents can bring selected household waste for separate collection. Depending on the type of waste and applicable limits, this can include:
electrical and electronic equipment
batteries and accumulators
bulbs and fluorescent lamps
selected household chemicals, such as paints and solvents
bulky waste and old furniture
used tyres
selected textiles and clothing
household renovation and construction waste
Acceptance rules and quantity limits apply to some categories, so make sure to check the current ZZO Poznań guidance before bringing specialist or larger quantities of waste.
A practical stop with a glimpse of the past
The Ecomuseum is an unusual addition to Poznań's cultural landscape because visitors do not need to make a separate museum trip to see it. It can be discovered while carrying out one of the most practical household jobs.
For residents bringing unwanted possessions to Gratowisko, the exhibition offers a chance to see how similar objects looked and functioned in previous generations.
It is a modest collection, but one with a distinctly Poznań connection, built from objects that once belonged to local households.
See more: Poznań’s 2026 World Cleanup Campaign to Begin on 7 September
Image credit: Zakład Zagospodarowania Odpadów w Poznaniu (ZZO)
