Deputy Mayor of Tallinn Kristjan Järvan stated that waste disposal would become 75 percent more expensive. Ivo Jaanisoo, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Climate, said this claim is untrue. The reform will reduce the amount of mixed waste.
Järvan wrote that waste processing would increase by 75 percent. The incineration fee will change to €60 per ton. Järvan noted that in Tallinn, all waste is transported to the Iru incineration plant.
Jaanisoo clarified that waste disposal costs would not increase by 75 percent. Sorting waste at the source helps reduce costs. This will decrease the amount of mixed waste several times. Most of the waste consists of packaging.
Jaanisoo added that emptying a container would cost an additional 30–95 cents. Tallinn needs to sign new contracts to enable waste sorting at the source. People will pay a maximum of 50 cents per waste container.
Currently, packaging waste can be collected in nine municipalities. More than 60 municipalities can order this service. Other municipalities need to sign new contracts.
Järvan stated that the amount of waste would not decrease immediately. Residents will have to pay more. Järvan blames the Reform Party and wants to reverse the reform.
Estonia generates a lot of waste. Currently, waste is either incinerated or landfilled. The waste reform will make waste collection simpler and more useful. Apartment buildings will have four waste containers: mixed waste, biowaste, paper, and packaging. Glass collection solutions depend on the municipality. The reform will reduce landfilled waste to almost zero.