The Ministry of the Environment has completed the draft regulation of a measure which establishes the conditions for the provision of funding for the closure of regular waste centres that do not meet requirements. 630 million kroons has been allocated from the European Cohesion Fund for the closure of such waste centres between 2007 and 2013 within the framework of the implementation plan for the development of the living environment. This sum will finance work on waste centres marked for closure by environmental services: collection and sealing of waste and the reconstruction and landscaping or covering of the filled area in an appropriate manner according to its setting. “The Waste Act states that any centres not meeting requirements in Estonia must be closed and land filling in them cease by 16 July 2009,” explained Peeter Eek, the director of the Waste Department of the Ministry of the Environment. “Closure and clean-up work at these centres must then be completed by 16 July 2013.” The first round of applications for funding will begin within three months of the regulation entering force, with those responsible for the closure of the waste centres able to apply for grants (generally local governments and waste centre operators). The maximum rate of funding is 90% and recipients are obliged to contribute at least 10% of their own funding to any project. The draft regulation of the measure was produced in association with the Environmental Investment Centre and the Ministries of Finance and Economic Affairs and Communications, and is currently being reviewed through the e-law system by the Ministries of Justice, Economic Affairs and Communications, Agriculture, Finance and Social Affairs and the Regional Minister. The draft will also be distributed to the Estonian Waste Management Association, the Estonian Council of Environmental NGOs, the Association of Municipalities of Estonia and the Association of Estonian Cities for their views. 25,149 billion kroons of funding has been provided within the framework of the implementation plan for the development of the living environment, with a total of 2.8 billion available for the advancement of waste management. In addition to the closure of waste centres that do not comply with requirements, support for waste management is also designed for the closure and clean-up of oil shale industry and energy waste disposal sites (coke hills and ash fields), the construction of regular waste centres that meet environmental requirements and the advancement of recycling. For further information please contact: Liina Laastik (15.02.2008) |
