In Estonia, packaging waste makes one third of the total volume of generated waste. Only some 15% of packaging waste is reused - this mostly includes beverage packages which are covered under the Packaging Excise Duty Act. Ways for encouraging the reuse of packaging waste were discussed on the German-Estonian waste management symposion held in Tallinn (hotel “Olümpia”) on September 24. The opening speech of the event was given by mr. Sulev Vare, Chancellor of the Ministry of the Environment. Mr. Vare expressed appreciation towards the initiative of the German colleagues to organize the symposion. Germany is one of the countries from whose experience at the reuse of packaging waste a lot can be learned. According to the target values concerning the reuse of packages stipulated in the Packaging Act, Estonia should have achieved at least a 50% level of reuse of the total volume of packages by June 30, 2001. However, the actual rate of reuse was considerably below this level. According to mr. Peeter Eek, Head of the Waste Department of the Estonian Ministry of the Environment, the Packaging Act approved in 1995 was probably slightly over-optimistic. “The idea was that once the obligations are stipulated by law, the producers and traders of packages will start to immediately perform those obligations. In fact, progress was encountered only after applying excise duty to beverage packages. Reuse of other packages is still a practically undiscovered area of activity,” said mr. Eek. Currently the draft of a new packaging act is under discussion, being according to mr. Eek much more regulative and strict than the valid act. “The whole sector dealing with packaging - both the package producers and trade - will face the approach “either you perform the obligations stipulated by the packaging act or considerable fiscal sanctions will be applied”,”commented mr. Eek. The new Packaging Act is being drafted by a working group including representatives of different interest groups. By the end of 2002, the draft act needs to be submitted by the Ministry of the Environment to the State Chancellery. The new target levels of reuse of packaging waste by the end of 2006 will be stipulated in the new act. For additional information please contact: |
