EE2025/0679/EE
Application of pollution charge to the incineration of waste for energy use
- Jurisdiction:
- Estonia
- Type:
- Other
- Last action:
- Nov 12, 2025
This measure imposes a pollution charge on waste-to-energy incineration to incentivize recycling over incineration; it is a fiscal/environmental tax instrument, not a circular-economy policy lever (no EPR, take-back, recycled content, repair, deposit, diversion mandate, or end-of-life product stewardship). Energy recovery from waste combustion is explicitly out of scope per circular-economy definition.
Full bill text
TRIS notification 2025/0679/EE — draft technical regulation notified under Directive (EU) 2015/1535 (not yet adopted) Application of pollution charge to the incineration of waste for energy use 1. MSG 001 IND 2025 0679 EE EN 12-11-2025 EE NOTIF 2. Estonia 4. 2025/0679/EE - S20E - Waste 5. Application of pollution charge to the incineration of waste for energy use 6. Incineration of non-hazardous waste for energy recovery 7. Directive (EC) No 94/62 on packaging and packaging waste No. 8. A pollution charge for the use of waste as energy will be implemented in Estonia from 1 July 2026 if waste will be used as fuel or an energy source. The pollution rates for energy use from waste per tonne of waste are as follows: (1) mixed municipal waste – EUR 60; 2) non-hazardous waste, excluding wood waste and mixed municipal waste, — EUR 40. If waste is used for energy purposes in a quantity greater than permitted in the environmental permit, the pollution charge rate shall be increased by 5 times, and without the permit, the pollution charge rate shall be increased by 10 times. The fee rates are the same for both imported waste and waste generated in Estonia. The fee must be declared (based on the amount of incinerated waste in tonnes) through the Information System for Environmental Decisions (https://kotkas.envir.ee/) and paid to the Tax and Customs Board through a prepayment account. 9. The aim is to incentivise target groups (waste operators) to prioritise waste recycling over waste incineration and landfilling, and to ensure that circular economy principles are increasingly taken into account. In the 2023 Early Warning Report, Estonia is one of the 18 Member States that is likely to fall short of the 2025 target of recycling 55% of municipal waste. One of the recommendations mentioned in this report is the introduction of a charge for the incineration of mixed municipal waste. 10. References to related legislation: 11. No 12. 13. No 14. Yes 15. Yes 16. TBT aspects: No SPS aspects: No
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