Estonia container waste heat power generation

How has Estonia transformed its treatment of municipal solid waste?

Estonia has transformed its treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW), changing from a reliance on landfilling – which accounted for almost 80% of MSW treatment in 2010 – to a high level of energy recovery via waste incineration.

What are the main sources of waste in Estonia?

The overwhelming majority of total waste in Estonia is generated by mining and quarrying, energy production, and manufacturing (see Figure 2 below) – and for all three sectors, the mining, combustion and processing of oil shale, the country’s main energy source, have been the main sources of waste.

What is Estonia's waste prevention programme?

The NWMP moreover contains Estonia’s Waste Prevention Programme, which sets the objective of decoupling economic growth and waste generation. The goal of a circular economy is to maintain the value of products, materials and resources in the economy for as long as possible and minimise the generation of waste.

Can Estonia use more biomass for energy?

This level of extraction is based on the moderate scenario of the current Forestry Development Plan35. Consequently, Estonia has the capacity to use greater levels of biomass for energy. However, this would need to be balanced by management that ensures the multi-functionality of its forests, providing a range of ecosystem services.