Waste generation

Waste statistics provide information on:

• waste generated in Estonia each year;
• waste landfilled;
• waste recovered;
• waste used for energy production;
• municipal waste generated per inhabitant.

Data from waste statistics are needed for organising and developing waste management in the country. An overview of waste use helps raise environmental awareness.

Administrative data process

Waste generation by economic activity, every two years (even-numbered years)

Estonian Classification of Economic Activities (EMTAK) based on NACE Rev. 2. In 2004–2006, the classification of economic activities NACE Rev. 1.1 was used (Estonian Classification of Economic Activities 2003). Since 2008, NACE Rev. 2 has been used (Estonian Classification of Economic Activities 2008).

List of waste jäätmete liigitamise kord ja jäätmenimistu (in Estonian only);

lists of waste recovery and disposal operations jäätmete taaskasutamis- ja kõrvaldamistoimingute nimistud (in Estonian only);

European Union waste categories.

The quantities of recovered and disposed waste differ between reporting under the Estonian Waste Act and Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council, i.e the Waste Statistics Regulation. Under the Estonian Waste Act, recovered and/or disposed waste also includes the final outputs of waste exchange or pre-treatment (waste, compounds, or mixtures) that are recovered by any operation. In reporting under the Waste Statistics Regulation, waste exchange or pre-treatment is not regarded as waste treatment or waste disposal. The transition from the Estonian waste classification to the European statistical waste categories is carried out in accordance with Eurostat’s guidance.

All institutional sectors are covered

Export – quantities of waste exported from Estonia to foreign countries

Hazardous waste – waste which due to the hazardous properties specified in the Commission Regulation (EU) No 1357/2014 may cause a hazard to human health, property or the environment

Import – quantities of waste imported into Estonia from foreign countries

Landfilling – a waste management facility for the deposit of waste onto or into land, including waste management facilities where a waste producer deposits waste at its place of production (internal waste disposal sites) and waste management facilities which are permanently used for storage of waste for longer than one year

List of waste – a classification of waste in which types of waste are identified by six-digit codes, while the two- and four-digit codes for sections and subsections represent three classification levels

Waste – any movable property or registered ship belonging to any of the waste categories which the holder discards, intends or is required to discard

Waste disposal – landfilling, incineration without energy recovery, or any other equivalent operation that is not recovery, including preparation of waste for disposal, even where the operation has a secondary consequence of reclaiming substances or energy

Waste generation – waste generated in enterprise during the reporting period due to production or other activity including waste collected from others

Waste management – collection, delivery, recovery, and disposal of waste

Waste permit – a right granted to a person handling waste or waste producer to carry out one or several of the waste handling operations specified in Waste Act or generate waste in the areas of activity specified in § 73 of Waste Act (RT I 2004, 9, 52). Waste permit also determines the requirements for exercising the right. Waste permits are granted by the Environmental Board.
A waste permit is required for:

• disposal of waste;
• waste recovery;
• collection or transport of hazardous waste;
• collection or transport of metal waste produced or transferred by other persons, except collection or transport of metal packagings of beverages taxable on the basis of the Packaging Excise Duty Act (RT I 1997, 5/6, 31; 1999, 54, 583; 2000, 59, 381; 2001, 88, 531; 2003, 88, 591), for the purposes of further commercial distribution or recovery;
• waste transport organized by a local government;
• transport of municipal waste if carried out as a business or professional activity.

A waste permit is not required from:

• a natural person who treats waste generated in their own household in accordance with the requirements of this Act;
• the Rescue Board for the collection and transport of waste generated during rescue operations or explosive ordnance disposal operations;
• a person who has been granted the right to carry out the activity under an integrated permit;
• state and educational institutions for the use of waste during training exercises, provided that the conditions of use have been approved by the Environmental Board.

Waste recovery – any waste management operation whose principal result is waste serving a useful purpose by replacing other materials that would otherwise have been used to fulfil a particular function, or waste being prepared to fulfil that function, either in the plant or in the wider economy

Waste treatment – the mechanical, thermal, chemical, or biological processing of waste, including sorting and packaging, which changes the properties of waste in order to reduce its quantity or hazardousness, facilitate its handling or disposal, or improve its recovery. The compaction of waste for the purpose of reducing its volume, for example during transport or landfilling, is not considered waste treatment.

Enterprise

Enterprises holding a waste permit or an integrated environmental permit

Estonia as a whole

2004–…

Data are published in every even-numbered year and refer to the year two years prior. For example, data published in 2026 refer to the period 01.01.2024–31.12.2024.

Not applicable

Quantity of waste generated and managed – tonne (t)

Year

European Union legislation:
Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2002 on waste statistics (Text with EEA relevance);

Commission Regulation (EC) No 782/2005 of 24 May 2005 setting out the format for the transmission of results on waste statistics (Text with EEA relevance);

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/2005 of 5 September 2005defining the proper quality evaluation criteria and the contents of the quality reports for waste statistics for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance).

National legislation:
Official Statistics Act;

Waste Act;

the procedure for classification of waste and list of waste jäätmete liigitamise kord ja jäätmenimistu (in Estonian only);

lists of waste recovery and disposal operations jäätmete taaskasutamis- ja kõrvaldamistoimingute nimistud (in Estonian only).

Data on waste generation are obtained from the Environment Agency under a contract.

None

The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in § 32, § 34, § 35 and § 38 of the Official Statistics Act.

On European level, Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

The principles for treatment of confidential data can be found here: Data protection (Privacy policy).

Data on waste generation are not confidential.

Notifications about the dissemination of statistics are published in the release calendar, which is available on Statistics Estonia's website. Every year on 1 October, the release times of the statistical database, news releases, main indicators by IMF SDDS and publications for the following year are announced in the release calendar (in the case of publications – the release month).

The release calendar is available to consumers on the website Calendar.

All users have been granted equal access to official statistics: dissemination dates of official statistics are announced in advance and no user category (incl. Eurostat, state authorities and media) is provided access to official statistics before other users. Official statistics are first published in the statistical database. If there is also a news release, it is published simultaneously with data in the statistical database. Official statistics are published on the website at 8:00 a.m. on the date announced in the release calendar.

Every two years (in even-numbered years)

Not published

Not published

Data are published in the statistical database in the following table under the subject area Environment / Environmental pressure / Generation of waste:
KK068: Waste generation by kind of waste and economic activity (EMTAK 2008).

The discontinued dataset KK68: Waste generation by waste categories and economic activity (EMTAK 2003) (2004–2006) is available under the subject area Discontinued datasets / Environment. Archive / Environmental pressure. Archive.

The database tables related to the survey were viewed 250 times in 2025.
Each table viewing is counted as a separate view. This is based on database URLs indicating that data have been selected and a table has been generated.

The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in § 33, § 34, § 35, § 36, § 38 of the Official Statistics Act.

Access to microdata and anonymisation of microdata are regulated by Statistics Estonia’s procedure for dissemination of confidential data for scientific purposes.

The data are transmitted to Eurostat via the EDAMIS data transmission system by 30 June in every even-numbered year using Eurastat's three waste statistics questionnaires. Eurostat publishes the data in its database.

The data serve as input for statistical processes 10601 “Material flow accounts”, 10105 "Energy accounts", 50201 “Sustainable development indicators”, and 10001 "Environmental trends".

The metadata related to the statistical process were viewed 58 times (1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025). This figure does not represent the number of viewers, as the metadata may have been viewed multiple times by a single user.
Until 2025, waste generation and waste balance data were covered in a joint quality and methodology report.

Eurostat methodology manual: Manual for the implementation of regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 on waste statistics, 2024 edition;

Alignment of Estonian and EU classifications: Guidance on classification of waste according to EWC-Stat categories

This statistical process is guided by the European Statistics Code of Practice – revised edition 2017.

A quality report is submitted to Eurostat in even-numbered years in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2002, i.e. the Waste Statistics Regulation.

Statistics Estonia operates a quality management system that integrates various quality systems implemented across the organisation. To ensure the quality of processes and products/services, Statistics Estonia applies the European Statistics Code of Practice and the related Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (ESS QAF), the requirements of section 7 “Principles and quality criteria of producing official statistics” of the Official Statistics Act, and, where possible, other standards and best practices. Compliance with these principles is laid down in the organisation's Quality Policy and internal documents.

Coordination of the quality management system is the responsibility of the organisation's quality manager; however, responsibility for ensuring and improving the quality of a process, service, or product lies with the department responsible for that service or product. General responsibilities are defined in the statutes of structural units; responsibility for specific activities and other related issues is set out in internal documentation.

Statistics Estonia carries out all statistical processes according to an international model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final phase of a statistical process is overall evaluation using information gathered in each phase or sub-process. This information can take many forms, including feedback from users, process metadata, system metrics, and suggestions from employees. It is used to prepare an evaluation report, which outlines all quality issues related to the specific statistical process and serves as input for improvement actions. The evaluation is carried out by the department responsible for the statistical process.

The statistical process is commissioned by Eurostat, which uses the data to calculate circular economy indicators and the sustainable development indicator circular material use rate.

In Estonia, the data are used by interested government institutions, organisations, and legal and natural persons.

Since 1996, Statistics Estonia has conducted reputation and user satisfaction surveys. Surveys conducted at least once a year target both the existing and potential consumers of statistics. All results are available on Statistics Estonia's website in the section User surveys. The survey referred to does not address a specific statistical process; it is a general satisfaction survey.

Information on user satisfaction can also be obtained from user feedback, which has been mostly positive.

The data are complete and comply with the Waste Act, Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2002 on waste statistics, and Eurostat's manuals.

All required indicators have been collected and calculated (completeness 100%).

The overall accuracy of the data is good. Occasional inaccuracies may occur due to errors in administrative data.

Not applicable as this is not a sample survey.

Not applicable as this is not a sample survey.

Not applicable

Not applicable as this statistical process is based on administrative data.

Not applicable as this statistical process is based on administrative data.

Not applicable as this statistical process is based on administrative data.

Not applicable as this statistical process is based on administrative data.

Not applicable as this statistical process is based on administrative data.

The data are published every two years, 546 days after the end of the reference year (T + 546 days).

The data are published once, see "Timeliness".

The data are published once, see "Timeliness".

The data have been published at the time announced in the release calendar.

100% of the data has been published on time (as announced in the release calendar).

The statistical process follows the international methodology developed by Eurostat. It uses a common European statistical classification of waste categories and a common list of waste treatment operations. The data are comparable with those of other European Union member states, with no differences in concepts or definitions.

Time series compiled under a common methodology begin in 2004.

As of 1 January 2020, the definition of oil shale ash was changed from hazardous waste to non-hazardous waste in the Estonian waste classification. The change applies only to oil shale ash; data for all other waste categories remain comparable over time. However, oil shale ash disposal sites remain hazardous waste landfills, as they cannot be reclassified retrospectively as non-hazardous waste landfills.

In 2004–2006, the classification of economic activities NACE Rev. 1.1 was used (Estonian Classification of Economic Activities 2003). Since 2008, NACE Rev. 2 has been used (Estonian Classification of Economic Activities 2008). Data for 2004–2006 are available in the data table KK68: Waste generation by waste categories and economic activity (EMTAK 2003) (2004–2006).

There are no breaks in the time series; therefore, the number of observation periods in the latest unbroken time series equals the total number of observation periods.

Waste generation data are linked to statistical process 22203 "Manufactured goods and industrial services". The data also serve as input for statistical activities 10601 “Material flow accounts”, 10105 “Energy accounts”, 50201 “Sustainable development indicators”, and 10001 “Environmental trends”.

Not applicable as data are not published for periods shorter than one year.

Not applicable as not directly usable in national accounts.

The data are internally coherent, as the same methodology, definitions, and data sources are used.

Since this statistical activity is based on data from administrative sources, there is no data submission and therefore no burden.

Costs are not calculated separately for different statistical activities.

The data revision policy and notification of corrections are described on Statistics Estonia's website in the section Principles of dissemination of official statistics.

The published data may be revised if the methodology is modified, errors are discovered, new or better data become available.

Not applied

Administrative data on enterprises that hold a waste permit or an integrated environmental permit and/or are engaged in waste treatment and waste collection are used as input.
Administrative data are obtained from the Environment Agency (KAUR).

Data from statistical process 22203 "Manufactured goods and industrial services" are used.

In accordance with the Waste Act, persons holding an environmental protection permit or a waste permit, as well as hazardous waste generators (except households), are required to keep continuous records of the type, quantity, nature, and origin of waste generated, collected, stored, transported, treated, recovered, or disposed of in the course of their activities, including the quantity and nature of items prepared for re-use or recycled. If waste is transferred to another waste handler, records must also be kept on the destination of the waste, collection frequency, modes of transport, and recovery and disposal operations.

Every two years in even-numbered years

The data are received from the Environment Agency as an Excel file, in accordance with the contract between the Environment Agency and Statistics Estonia.

Arithmetic and qualitative checks are used in the validation process, including comparisons with other data. The data are compared with data from previous periods and checked for inconsistencies.
Before dissemination, the internal coherence of the data is verified.

Microdata are aggregated to the level necessary for analysis. Waste quantities are reclassified from the Estonian waste list to Eurostat's material-based statistical classification of waste. Waste quantities are assigned to economic activities (EMTAK codes) on the basis of waste generation.

In addition to waste generation, quantities of treated waste (incineration, landfilling, and recycling) are also calculated by waste category. Calculations are also made for the number of waste treatment facilities, the capacity of incineration plants, and the rest capacity of landfills.

The collected data are converted into statistical output in accordance with the guidelines set out in the manual on waste statistics.

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Until 2025, waste generation and waste balance data were covered in a joint quality and methodology report. Since the two statistical processes differ in terms of reporting period and methodology, separate reports have been compiled for each process from 2026 onwards.