Waste Management in Estonia Margit Rüütelmann Managing Director of EWMA

Waste Management Waste Management in Estoniain Estonia

Margit RüütelmannMargit RüütelmannManaging Director of EWMAManaging Director of EWMA

Tabel of Contents

1. Estonian Waste Management Association.

2. Generation of Waste in Estonia.3. National Waste Legislation.4. Waste Management Future.

EstonianWaste Management Association (EWMA)

➢Estonian Waste Management Association was established in 1996 as non – profit association by 26 waste management companies.

➢Today EWMA has 45 members (private waste management companies) and 11 individual members.

EstonianWaste Management Association

➢The mission of EWMA is to stand for the common interests of the members and to develop waste management in Estonia directed by the general principles of sustainable development.

➢The overall amount of generated waste in Estonia in 2006 was about 20,0 million tons.➢The dominating waste sources are oil shale mining, oil shale chemistry and power production. ➢Other branches of industry responsible for extensive waste generation are construction, timber and food processing industry. ➢Municipal waste forms about 3 % (593 268 tons in 2006) of the total amount of waste.

Generation of Waste in Estonia

2004 2005 2006Million tons

Total amount of generated waste 17,5 18,5 20,0Non-hazardous waste 10,3 11,5 13,24Hazardous waste 7,2 7,0 6,76

Recycling of waste 4,4 5,55 7,46of total generation 25 % 30% 37,3%

Disposal 11,5 11,5 10,97

Generation of Waste in Estonia

2004 2005 2006

Generation of MSW(tons) 573 733 556 006 593 268

Generation kg/person 424 412 441

Recycling (tons) 150 605 133 064 179 703% of generation 26% 24% 30%

Disposal (tons) 382 544 369 487 373 270

Generation of MSW in Estonia

National Waste Legislation

Environmental Charge Act, entered into force January 1st, 2006 (amended several times, pollution charge rates increased).

Waste Act, entered into force May 1st, 2004, has been amended several times (last time in 2007).

Packaging Act, entered into force June 1st, 2004, intended to amend this year.

National Waste Legislation

Environmental Charge Act provides the rates of the charge to be paid for the release of pollutants or waste into the environment.For example the pollution charge for release of waste into the environment is 8,5 EUR per ton of waste.3/4 of the pollution charge (for release of waste into the environment) goes to the local authority for the development of waste management in the area.Waste Act provides the general requirements for preventing waste generation and for organising waste management with the objective to reduce the harmfulness and quantity of waste. Packaging Act regulates the handling of packaging waste.

Waste Act

The Waste Act gives priority to re-use, followed by recycling and energy recovery.

From January 1st, 2008, unsorted waste cannot be disposed to landfill.

Under the Waste Act, the mass biodegradable waste in municipal waste must not exceed

45% by 16 July 2010 30% by 16 July 2013 20% by 16 July 2020

Organised municipal waste collection

According to Waste Act the local authorities have the obligation to administer organised municipal waste collection within their administrative territories starting January 1st, 2005.

The aim of organised municipal waste collection/transport is to get almost all municipal waste holders covered with contracts.

Municipal waste producers are required to subscribe to organized municipal waste collection/transport.

Organised Municipal Waste Collection

The number of residents to be serviced in a transport area specified shall generally not exceed 30 000.

The limits of waste transport fees are established by a regulation of the rural municipality or city council.

Organized municipal waste collection covers municipal waste from households and enterprises.

Special or exclusive right to carry out waste transport within the specified transport area is given for up to five years.

Packaging Act

Packaging undertakings should guarantee (staring May 1st, 2005) collection and recovery of the packaging of goods packaged or imported by them and should bear the related costs.

Packaging undertakings may transfer the obligations to recovery organisations founded by packaging undertakings.

Packaging Act

3 recovery organizations for packaging waste:

Collection of all types of packaging except packaging under deposit:

The Estonian Recovery Organization (ERO) and Estonian PackCycling. Both non-profit organizations.

Eesti Pandipakend LLC is organising the recovery of packaging under deposit.

Producer Responsibility

Since August 13th, 2005, producers are responsible for taking care of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE).

2 recovery organizations for WEEE:EES-Ringlus, non-profit organizationEesti Elektoonikaromu, non-profit organization

Companies importing and selling cars in Estonia must guarantee the collection, treatment or disposal of used cars since August 13th, 2005.

Waste Management Future

According to the Waste Act July 16th, 2009 all landfills that do not meet the requirements are closed.

The closure process started in 2001 and today 6 compliant landfill sites (5 for municipal waste +1 for hazardous waste) are operating in Estonia.

Waste Management Future

Plans for incineration

Tallinn, Iru Power Plant – mass incineration – heat and power co-production

RDF incineration in Kunda Nordic Cement Ltd

Tartu, mass incineration

Thank you for your attention!