Estonian Environment Agency

Enviormental use department

Mustamäe tee 33, 10616, Tallinn, Estonia

18 June 2025

18 June 2025

18 June 2025

Reporting with the new calculations rules.

The derogation to make use of average loss rates is not applicable.

Table : Institutions involved in the collection of data and distribution of tasks

Estonia use a standard classification.

Estonia use a standard classification.

All sectors

Estonia does not take into account the amount of wooden packaging that is repaired for reuse in the calculation of the targets laid down in point (f), point (g) (ii), point (h) and point (i) (ii) of Article 6(1) of Directive 94/62/EC.

Estonia takes into account the amount of metals in incineration bottom ash (IBA) for the calculation of the targets.

Reuse systems are used, but we do not use this in our calculations. Amounts of reusable packaging are shown in Table 3.

Bottom ash from the incineration of mixed municipal waste also contains glass packaging waste. As it goes to cover the landfill, then the glass contained in the bottom ash is taken into account as other recovery. Only the quantity from the incineration of mixed municipal waste generated in Estonia has been taken into account and the ash that remained in the warehouse has not been taken into account.

Temporary storage of packaging waste were not largely used. Amounts of temporary storage of packaging waste are shown in waste reports. No estimates or surveys are used.

 waste company

Total packaging waste disposed of in the national territory collected by waste operators in all waste streams.

Covers the entire territory of Estonia

year based

Not applicable

Tonnes

Calendar year

Packaging Act, Packaging Register Regulation, Waste Act

Directive 94/62/EC, Decision 2005/270/EC

Based on the law and cooperation agreements

The quality report is not confidential.

Not applicable

Every year on November 15.

annual

annual, free access

​annually

Environmental portal and press releases. Estonia does not keep records of the number of press releases submitted.

Final report: Mixed household waste, separately collected paper and packaging waste, and 

waste electrical and electronic equipment. A study of the composition and quantities. 

(file only available in Estonian): Envir.

environmental portal: www.keskkonnaportaal.ee

Microdata which is not part of enterprise secret can be downloaded as opendata.

Data are submitted to Eurostat in accordance with the guidelines of the European Commission.

Inhouse methodology is not publicly available. The survey of the composition of mixed municipal waste, separately collected waste paper and packaging waste and WEEE is public.

In-house quality validation standard

Quality is assured via inner procedures. We have guidelines (not for public use) and procedures descriptions explaining the roles and responsibilities. In general, the Ministry of Climate is responsible for legislative development, the Environmental Board is responsible for environmental permits and supervision of companies, and the Environmental Agency is responsible for the analysis of data submitted by companies. 

See the description in point 11.1.

free entree and no specific rules

not applicable

Packaging waste statistics cover all packaging.

Packaging waste report data depends on data quality from waste managers. Reusable packaging is not used in calculations. It is mandatory for companies to submit to the packaging register all the data necessary to fill in table 3, and we use this data when filling out table 3.

The information in this section is to provide an overarching understanding of the accuracy of any statistical surveys used relating to packaging waste. Some of the information may be available in previous questions.

There are no statistical studies on reusable packaging. It is mandatory for companies to submit to the packaging register all the data necessary to fill in table 3.

not applicable

Waste movements are automatically checked in WDMS reports from both the receiving and transferring companies, and any errors that occur are automatically highlighted. After entering the report, the Environmental Board conducts the initial review of the reports and approves the reports.

Depends on the reports of submissions: deadline for waste reports is 31.01 (annually); packaging reports 31.03 (annually).

State reportings are done on time, their are time lags from the enterprise side. Taking into the acount that reporting to the EU is based n-2 principle then it doen't effect national reporting.

Not applicable.

No methodological changes were made.

Not applicable

Not applicable

Explanation detailing the causes of the tonnage difference (in relation to which waste streams, sectors or estimates have caused the difference, and what the underlying cause is) for any component of packaging waste generated and recycled which shows greater than a 10 % variation from the data submitted for the previous data year.

Not applicable.

Enterprise is responsible for its data and data quality.

No revisions foreseen

Electronical system (KOTKAS-The aim of the Environmental decision information system is to maintain records on the waste generated and handled in Estonia, but also on imported and exported waste), surveys and estimates of waste managers.

The aim of the sorting studies are to analyse the composition of mixed municipal waste, mixed packaging waste, separately collected waste paper and packaging waste generated in different regions of Estonia. See: A study of the composition and quantities of mixed household waste, separately collected paper and packaging waste, waste electrical and electronic equipment (Final report: Mixed household waste, separately collected paper and packaging waste, and waste electrical and electronic equipment. A study of the composition and quantities. file only available in Estonian), Envir download.

The waste samples for waste analysis are taken from:

Through the electronic system (KOTKAS), we collect data every year. Once every four years, we conduct a survey of the composition of mixed municipal waste, separately collected waste paper and packaging waste and WEEE.

See responses in following points.

The generated packaging waste consists of separately collected packaging waste, mixed packaging waste, packaging contained in separately collected wastepaper and cardboard, and packaging waste contained in mixed municipal waste.  The data from larger handlers of packaging waste and the data from KOTKAS have been used for the division of packaging waste containing hazardous substances by material. Waste coded 20 01 01 (separately collected paper and cardboard in municipal waste) and 20 03 01 (mixed municipal waste) have been taken into account; the results of the 2020 study on the composition of mixed municipal waste, separately collected waste paper and packaging waste and WEEE by SEI have been used to calculate the quantities of packaging waste. The results of the study are also used to divide mixed packaging waste by material. Study affect the generation of packaging.
Amount of R3k (preparing for reuse of products or their components, consisting mainly of organic materials) is deducted from the total generation of wooden packaging waste. Based on Eurostat recommendations, the excess moisture contained in packaging waste has been deducted to bring the waste back to its natural moisture in the calculations (equal to the moisture content of the packaging at the time of placing on the market).  The calculations are based on the results of measurements performed by SEI Tallinn during the mixed municipal waste composition survey (2020). The measurements have been performed in two stages (in two different seasons) and the average moisture contents by waste types have been taken into account. Packaging waste contained in mixed municipal waste, separately collected packaging waste and packaging waste contained in waste paper, each of which has a separate moisture content, are treated separately.

For composite packaging we use the results of the surveys. Composite packaging is reported per material contained in the packaging.

Additional information about the methodology, including the combination of methods used:

The data from KOTKAS have been used for the calculations of recycling. Export must be added to the packaging obtained on the basis of KOTKAS in order to obtain recycling, since it has not been automatically added to recovery. In addition, the packaging imported to Estonia must be deducted, since it has already been taken into account as recovered in the country of dispatch; thus, duplication of recovery is avoided within the European Union. Metal packaging from the mixed municipal waste reaches to the bottom ash during the energy production. According to the 2020 packaging study by SEI, the percentage of metal packaging in the share of metal in mixed municipal waste is 78%. Due to that the proportion of metal packaging in 19 01 02 are added to the recycling. Metal packaging are already taken into account in the packaging waste generation. The share of import of 20 03 01 is deducted from the result. Amount of landfilling is used as a one input while calculating the energy use of packaging waste. The quantity of packaging waste contained in mixed municipal waste incinerated in the power plant, the quantity of separately collected and incinerated waste and the quantities of landfilling are used to calculate the energy recovery of packaging waste (except metal and glass packaging). Moisture contents obtained as a result of measurements performed by SEI Tallinn in the course of the mixed municipal waste composition study are deducted from all quantities. The amount of total recycling, the amount of energy recovery and the amount of packaging waste deposited in the landfills need to be deducted from the generation of waste to get the amount of 19 12 10 and 19 12 12. Bottom ash from the incineration of mixed municipal waste also contains glass packaging waste. As it goes to cover the landfill, then the glass contained in the bottom ash is taken into account as other recovery. Only the quantity from the incineration of mixed municipal waste generated in Estonia has been taken into account and the ash that remained in the warehouse has not been taken into account. 

The aim of the sorting studies are to analyse the composition of mixed municipal waste, mixed packaging waste, separately collected waste paper and packaging waste generated in different regions of Estonia. See: A study of the composition and quantities of mixed household waste, separately collected paper and packaging waste, and electronic waste (Final report: Mixed household waste, separately collected paper and packaging waste, and waste electrical and electronic equipment. A study of the composition and quantities.File only available in Estonian), Envir download.

Estonia does not use surveys.

Calculation of recycling of metals from incinerator bottom ash : Detailed description of the method to collect data in order to calculate the amount of metals separated from incineration bottom ash in accordance with the Commission Implementing Act adopted in accordance with Article 37(7) of Directive 2008/98/EC.

See responses in following points.

We have a register where information about waste management is gathered. Waste reporting system (KOTKAS) consists ‘balance method’ - fixinging and comparing the "income" (waste generation + received from others, including imports) and "outgoing" (’finally’ handled + transferred to others, including exports) of waste quantities by type. The type of waste received at the waste management facility shall be entered in the register with the accuracy of the waste code and the quantity received shall be indicated also. When the waste is sorted then this information shall be entered to the register and the type of waste generated as a result of sorting shall be entered as a secondary generation. If the waste is recycled or recovered then waste managers enetering it to the system accoring to lists of waste recovery and disposal operations (R-codes). Register also contains information about imported and exported waste (waste type, quantity, country and R-codes). Waste movements are automatically checked in WDMS reports from both the receiving and transferring companies, and any errors that occur are automatically highlighted. After entering the report, the Environmental Board conducts the initial review of the reports and approves the reports.
Once all reporting is done Estonian Environment Agency aggregates the data at national level and verifies the national amounts before the national waste statistics is published. Waste managers must have waste pertmit which consist operatsion codes that waste managers are allowed to do. When giving an environmental protection permit, the Environmental Board shall ensure that the waste manager has the technical capacity to perform the activities. The Environmental Inspectorate control the compliance of activities with the environmental protection permit.

When inspecting waste operators, the Environmental Inspectorate checks that a contract has been concluded between the exporter and the importer and that where and how the waste is handled is described. Also that what is described in the contract corresponds to the accompanying documents. However, there is no definitive certainty asi t would require separaate control procedures in the country of destination. The European Commission is currently reviewing the requirements of the Regulation 1013/2006 and this is also one of the important topic how to make this more efficient in the future.

The columns in the table relate to information on verification procedures used within the national statistical reporting system to validate the accuracy of the data.

The columns in the table relate to information on verification procedures used within the national statistical reporting system to validate the accuracy of the data.

See responses in following points.

Primary sources and their shares in the total.

(*) Necessity of a certain minimum amount of waste, turnover etc. to be registered 

Primary sources and their shares in the total.

(*) Necessity of a certain minimum amount of waste, turnover etc. to be registered

Packaging waste generated estimated by waste analysis

Waste statistics cover all packaging placed on the market.

Sorting is made before calculation points. The calculation point is the same as the measurement point. If there is anything else in the recyclable material that is not packaging or has excess moisture, then the waste handler must remove these other quantities with R12s operation or as another output and we will consider the clean secondary material for which the recycling operation is shown to us.

If compostable packaging is recovered (recycled) at biowaste treatment plant then waste operator measures and indicates which type and how much packaging waste is going into the process. In an annual waste report waste operator shows the amount of wastes which has recycled in a year and has become a product – compost. Compost made from waste has to meet different quality requirements. Only data from waste operators which waste composte system has certified and licenced is allowed to use for annual report for packaging and use for the targets. 

For composite packaging we use the results of the surveys. Composite packaging is reported per material contained in the packaging.

Description of the sorted packaging waste to which ALRs are applied, types of sorting plants to which different ALRs apply, the methodological approach to calculating ALRs at such point(s), including the statistical accuracy of any surveys used, or the nature of any technical specifications.

See responses in following points.

Description, where applicable, of the methodology to exclude non-packaging waste from the reported amount of recycled packaging waste and of the methodology to correct the amount of packaging waste at the measurement point in order to reflect the natural humidity rate of packaging (including by using relevant European standards). Aggregated data across facilities of a similar type is acceptable.

Description of the methodology to exclude waste originating from other countries, where applicable. Aggregated data across facilities of a similar type is acceptable.

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