Ülle-Triin Enden, head of the Cohesion Fund Bureau at the Ministry of the Environment, says that the closure of the waste centre represents the eradication of one of the main sources of pollution in greater Tallinn. “It will lead to a significant reduction in levels of air and water pollution, because the work done in the course of the closure has led to a decrease in production of greenhouse gases, and the centre’s leachate and surface water collection systems will also help to improve the environmental condition of the Pääsküla River,” she explained, adding that the environmental conditions for people living in the area would also improve overall. The leachate and surface water collection systems were constructed as part of the closure work alongside a gas collection and irrigation system with pumping stations. Also installed were a vinyl plate restraining wall around the perimeter of the waste centre, geosynthetic clay liners, a drainage mat and additional surface coverage layers with landscaping. Electricity, lighting and remote security systems and an environmental monitoring system were also constructed. The aim of the project, which comes to an end on Thursday, was to close the Pääsküla waste centre in accordance with the requirements of the European Union directive. The total financing of the project was 173 million kroons, of which the EU’s Cohesion Fund covered 75%. The Pääsküla waste centre was opened as a temporary centre in 1972, but provided landfill for greater Tallinn’s household and industrial waste for more than 30 years. The event marking official closure will begin at 11.00 am at 42 Raba Street in Tallinn.
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